Parkinson's Disease clinical trials at UC Davis

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the dorsal region of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is very effective for reducing motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Modeling studies suggest that this therapy may result in current spread into the ventral STN, causing altered cognitive processes. As a result, current stimulation parameters often lead to worsening in verbal fluency, executive function, and, particularly, cognitive control. There is evidence suggesting that low frequency oscillatory activity occurs across brain circuits important in integrating information for cognition. Preclinical studies and human recording studies indicate these low frequency theta oscillations drive cognitive control during cognitive tasks. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of low frequency stimulation (LFS) of the ventral STN alongside standard high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the dorsal STN in patients with PD.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the oral drug candidate EC5026 is safe and targets the correct pathways to treat Parkinson's Disease in adults. It will also learn about the levels of drug that are achieved in blood and in the fluid surrounding the brain (spinal fluid). The main questions it aims to answer are: - Is EC5026 safe in adults with Parkinson's Disease? - What are the levels of EC5026 achieved after oral administration for 28 days? - What molecules or pathways does EC5026 target, and to what extent? In addition, although it is not one of the primary aims of the study, this clinical trial will also explore if oral administration of EC5026 improves the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Researchers will compare EC5026 to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug). Participants will: - Take EC5026 or a placebo every day for 28 consecutive days - Visit the clinic for frequent checkups, blood tests, spinal fluid tests, and questionnaires