Can a Brain-Calming drug help Parkinson's patients walk better?
NCT ID NCT01108029
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether memantine, a drug that reduces overactive brain signals, can improve walking and attention in people with advanced Parkinson's disease. Twenty-eight non-demented patients with severe gait issues took memantine or a placebo for three months. The goal was to see if the drug could ease freezing of gait and attention deficits, potentially leading to larger studies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- memantine (a drug that blocks excess glutamate in the brain)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new way to ease walking problems and attention issues in advanced Parkinson's disease.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early pilot study with only 28 participants. The results may not apply to all Parkinson's patients, and memantine might not show clear benefits.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
-
28 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
-
Oct 2009
- Finished
-
Oct 2010
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
30 to 80 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Parkinson's disease of more than 5 years * Subthalamic nucleus stimulation * Gait disorders impeding moderately to severely the activities of daily living * gait disorders including freezing of gait * able to walk without physical assistance Exclusion Criteria: * Dementia (MMSE \< 27 et score de Mattis \< 130) * Requiring dopatherapy modification * Requiring subthalamic stimulation parameters adaptation * Psychiatric disorders: hallucinations, unstable thymic disorders, psychosis) * Cardiac disorders: dysrhythmia or unstable arterial hypertension * Unstable or severe medical illness * intolerance or contraindication to memantine
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Devos
Lille, 59037, France
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Walking memory tests may reveal early Parkinson's clues
- Can a workout after walking practice help Parkinson's patients learn better?
- Colon tissue may hold clues to telling Parkinson's apart from Look-Alike diseases
- A genetic roadmap for Parkinson's: testing thousands to unlock clues
- Can gentle touch therapy calm Parkinson's tremors?
- Stem cell infusions aim to slow Parkinson's progression