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[caption id="attachment_7441" align="alignright" width="200"] Dr Jackie Liddle[/caption]
A smartphone app has been developed to help monitor and improve treatments for people with Parkinson鈥檚 disease.
Researchers from The University of Queensland and CSIRO are using smartphone technology to monitor the symptoms and wellbeing of people with the disease.
Dr Jacki Liddle, from the聽UQ Centre for Clinical Research, said new smartphone applications were being developed to measure and understand the symptoms, daily activities and response to medication of people with Parkinson鈥檚.
鈥淭he app is part of a larger monitoring system that uses, among other things, micro-sensors worn on the body to monitor patients鈥� movements and voice patterns,鈥� Dr Liddle said.聽鈥淭he data collected will be sent wirelessly to a portal and communicated to research and clinical teams, enabling a timely response to issues that occur.鈥�
By monitoring people鈥檚 movements and participation in their communities, researchers can gain important insights into the lives of people with Parkinson鈥檚, the nature and timing of their needs and the contributions they make to the community.
The app update has been announced in the lead up to World Parkinson鈥檚 Day on Friday, April 11.
Simon McBride, from CSIRO鈥檚聽Australian E-Health Research Centre, said the new technology would give a clear indication of treatment outcomes on the person鈥檚 health and their daily life.
鈥淧arkinson鈥檚 disease is progressive, with symptoms that can fluctuate throughout the day,鈥� Mr McBride said.
鈥淒iagnosis and determining accurately the most appropriate levels of medication or stimulation require careful monitoring of symptoms and outcomes.聽鈥淐urrently, symptoms are monitored through brief clinical assessments or in a laboratory situation.
鈥淪martphones are ideal for monitoring symptoms and participation in the community while individuals are conducting their usual activities at home.鈥�
Researchers trialled the GPS-tracking component of the technology during the Parkinson鈥檚 Unity Walk in September and Dr Liddle said she was pleased with the results.
鈥淭his new technology will reduce the burden and costs associated with clinical assessments and give a more accurate indication of the impact of Parkinson鈥檚 disease and treatments on people鈥檚 lives,鈥� she said.
The research team is seeking funding to complete the project and hopes to have the technology available within two years