Focus on Dopamine
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Focus on Dopamine-Are there disease specific pattern of eye movements associated with dopaminergic deficit?\n
IRAS ID
203446
Contact name
John Rothwell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2016/08/25, UCL Data protection nr
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
What and Why? \nStudying eye movements can provide important insights into the pathophysiology of neurological disorders. Patients with Parkinson’s disease e.g., a condition where dopaminergic deficits are predominant, have clinically normal eye movements, but on specialized testing (eye tracking) a number of abnormalities in eye movement control are apparent. These abnormalities have been linked to dopaminergic deficit, though it remains an important unanswered question whether this is the case. A number of other disorders are primarily the result of dopaminergic abnormalities, but remain broadly uncharacterised in terms of eye movement abnormalities. My proposed line of study will investigate how different diseases, which are definitely or putatively associated with dopaminergic dysfunction affect eye movements. These studies will help to understand the role(s) of dopaminergic deficit in eye movement dysfunction, potentially leading to methods to assist diagnosis in patients with early or subclinical illness, and will contribute to a mechanistic understanding of the role of dopamine in the generation of voluntary movements, cognition and reward.\n\nWho?\nPatients diagnosed with one of the following conditions: Parkinsonian conditions, dystonia, patients with previous DBS (deep brain stimulation) surgery, Restless legs syndrome as well as patients with traumatic brain injury/vascular lesion and abnormal DaTSCANs.\n\nWhere and How?\nThe testing will take place on the 4th floor of the Sobell Department, 33 Queen Square and will not take longer than 2 hours per session. Multiple sessions could be scheduled if more convenient for the participant. The eyetracker (SR eyelink 1000) used is a non-invasive device, which consists of a chin-rest placed in front of an infrared camera detecting eye movements. It is attached to a computer screen, that will provide visual cues which the subjects will be asked to follow. Additionally the patient will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0093
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion