PPMI Clinical - Establishing a Deeply Phenotyped PD Cohort

Last updated: July 15, 2025
Sponsor: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

N/A

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

NCT04477785
PPMI-002
  • Ages > 30
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

The Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) is a longitudinal, observational, multi-center natural history study to assess progression of clinical features, digital outcomes, and imaging, biologic and genetic markers of Parkinson's disease (PD) progression in study participants with manifest PD, prodromal PD, and healthy controls.

The overall goal of PPMI is to identify markers of disease progression for use in clinical trials of therapies to reduce progression of PD disability.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

7.1 Healthy Controls (HC) Note: Active Healthy controls previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI Clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

7.1.1 Inclusion Criteria (HC)

  1. Male or female age 57 years or older at Screening visit.

  2. Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.

  3. Confirmation that participant is eligible based on Screening SPECT imaging.

  4. Able to provide informed consent.

  5. Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:

  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

7.1.2 Exclusion Criteria (HC)

  1. First degree relative with PD (i.e., biologic parent, sibling, child).

  2. Current or active clinically significant neurological disorder (in the opinion of the Investigator).

  3. Previously obtained MRI scan with evidence of clinically significant neurological disorder (in the opinion of the Investigator).

  4. Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Screening visit.

  5. Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., coumadin, heparin, oral thrombin inhibitors) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.

  6. Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.

  7. Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.

  8. Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

7.2 Parkinson's Disease (PD) Note: Active PD participants previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI Clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

7.2.1 Inclusion Criteria (PD)

  1. Male or female age 30 years or older at Screening Visit.

  2. A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease for 2 years or less at Screening Visit.

  3. Not expected to require PD medication within at least 6 months from Baseline.

  4. Patients must have at least two of the following: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity (must have either resting tremor or bradykinesia); OR either asymmetric resting tremor or asymmetric bradykinesia.

  5. Hoehn and Yahr stage I or II at Baseline.

  6. Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.

  7. Confirmation that participant is eligible based on Screening SPECT imaging.

  8. Able to provide informed consent.

  9. Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:

  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

7.2.2 Exclusion Criteria (PD)

  1. Currently taking levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, amantadine or another PD medication, except for low-dose treatment of restless leg syndrome (with permission of medical monitor).

  2. Has taken levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors or amantadine within 60 days of Baseline visit.

  3. Has taken levodopa or dopamine agonists prior to Baseline visit for more than a total of 90 days.

  4. Atypical PD syndromes due to either drugs (e.g., metoclopramide, flunarizine, neuroleptics) or metabolic disorders (e.g., Wilson's disease), encephalitis, or degenerative diseases (e.g., progressive supranuclear palsy).

  5. A clinical diagnosis of dementia as determined by the investigator.

  6. Previously obtained MRI scan with evidence of clinically significant neurological disorder (in the opinion of the Investigator).

  7. Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Screening visit.

  8. Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., coumadin, heparin, oral thrombin inhibitors) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.

  9. Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.

  10. Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.

  11. Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

7.3 Parkinson's Disease (PD) with LRRK2 or GBA variant Note: Active PD participants previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI Clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

7.3.1 Inclusion Criteria (PD ¬- LRRK2 or GBA)

  1. Male or female age 30 years or older at Screening Visit.

  2. A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease for 2 years or less at Screening Visit.

  3. Patients must have at least two of the following: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity (must have either resting tremor or bradykinesia); OR either asymmetric resting tremor or asymmetric bradykinesia.

  4. Hoehn and Yahr stage I or II at Baseline.

  5. Confirmation of causative LRRK2 or GBA (willingness to undergo genetic testing as part of genetic screening and be informed of genetic testing results, or approved documentation of prior genetic testing results).

  6. Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.

  7. Confirmation that participant is eligible based on Screening SPECT imaging.

  8. Able to provide informed consent.

  9. Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:

  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

7.3.2 Exclusion Criteria (PD - LRRK2 or GBA)

  1. Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Screening visit.

  2. Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., coumadin, heparin) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.

  3. Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.

  4. Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.

  5. Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

7.4 Parkinson's Disease (PD) with SNCA or rare genetic variant Note: Active PD participants previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

7.4.1 Inclusion Criteria (PD - SNCA or rare genetic variant (such as Parkin or Pink1))

  1. Male or female age 30 years or older at Screening Visit.

  2. Parkinson's disease diagnosis at Screening Visit.

  3. Patients must have at least two of the following: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity (must have either resting tremor or bradykinesia); OR either asymmetric resting tremor or asymmetric bradykinesia.

  4. Hoehn and Yahr stage I, II, or III at Baseline.

  5. Confirmation of causative SNCA or rare genetic variant (such as Parkin or Pink1) (willingness to undergo genetic testing as part of genetic screening and be informed of genetic testing results, or approved documentation of prior genetic testing results).

  6. Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.

  7. Confirmation that participant is eligible based on Screening SPECT imaging.

  8. Able to provide informed consent.

  9. Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:

  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

7.4.2 Exclusion Criteria (PD - SNCA or rare genetic variant (such as Parkin or Pink1))

  1. Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Screening visit.

  2. Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., coumadin, heparin) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.

  3. Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.

  4. Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.

  5. Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

7.5 Prodromal Note: Active Prodromal participants previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI Clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

The specific predictive eligibility criteria for participants recruited through PPMI Remote to advance to PPMI Clinical will be iteratively optimized based on data collected from these studies.

7.5.1 Inclusion criteria (Prodromal)

For Screening:

  1. Confirmation that participant is eligible based on centrally determined predictive criteria including the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT).
  • For participants in PPMI Remote, referral to the clinical site confirms predictive eligibility.

  • For participants identified by the clinical site, predictive criteria are based on generalized risk such as first degree biologic relative, known risk of PD including RBD, or known genetic variants associated with PD risk.

Additionally, confirmation of UPSIT eligibility during the Screening visit prior to SPECT Imaging.

  1. Male or female age 60 years or older (except age 30 years or older for SNCA, or rare genetic variants (such as Parkin or Pink1) participants).

  2. Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.

  3. Able to provide informed consent.

  4. Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:

• Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

For continuation to Baseline visit and ongoing follow-up:

  1. Confirmation that participant is eligible based on *Screening SPECT imaging.
  • Screening SPECT Imaging eligibility:

Based on the results of the SPECT imaging test, Prodromal participants eligible to continue their participation in PPMI Clinical will be asked to return for their PPMI Clinical baseline visit. Neither the participant nor the site investigator will be made aware of the participant's DAT status during the study.

  • It is anticipated that approximately 6,000 participants will complete a screening visit to undergo DAT imaging. Approximately 2,000 participants will be eligible to continue their participation in PPMI Clinical (those not eligible to proceed will remain in PPMI Remote, as applicable).

  • All participants with DAT deficit will be eligible to continue their participation in PPMI Clinical. It is estimated that about 75% of eligible participants will have a DAT deficit (defined by a hybrid of visual assessment and quantitative striatal specific binding analysis).

  • Some participants without DAT deficit will also be eligible to continue their participation in PPMI Clinical. These participants will be chosen based on DAT binding that is reduced from age expected but it not outside the normal range and/or from individuals with high-risk of PD including RBD, LRRK2, GBA, SNCA, or rare genetic variants (such as Parkin or Pink1) that do not demonstrate DAT deficit. It is estimated that about 25% of eligible participants will not have a DAT deficit.

  • It is anticipated that approximately 30% of the PPMI Clinical prodromal participants with DAT deficit will phenoconvert to motor parkinsonism during a 3 to 5-year follow-up.

7.5.2 Exclusion Criteria (Prodromal)

  1. Clinical diagnosis of PD at screening, other parkinsonism, or dementia.

  2. Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Baseline Visit.

  3. Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g. coumadin, heparin) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.

  4. Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.

  5. Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.

  6. Currently taking levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, amantadine or another PD medication, except for low-dose treatment of restless leg syndrome (with permission of medical monitor).

  7. Has taken levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors or amantadine within 60 days of Baseline visit. except for low-dose treatment of restless leg syndrome (with permission of medical monitor).

  8. Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

Study Design

Total Participants: 4500
Study Start date:
July 01, 2020
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2033

Study Description

PPMI is a broad program, expanding the goals of the original PPMI study, that includes this PPMI Clinical protocol, as well as other program initiatives such as the PPMI Remote, PPMI Digital App and PPMI Online protocols. Participants in PPMI may be asked to be enrolled in other PPMI program protocols, but depending on their method of recruitment, participants may be enrolled sequentially in varying order, as appropriate. PPMI participants may also be asked to participate in additional PPMI program initiatives (as they are developed), which may only involve a subset of PPMI participants based on their cohort designation and/or site location.

Connect with a study center

  • Innsbruck Medical University

    Innsbruck, 6020
    Austria

    Active - Recruiting

  • The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus

    Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4E9
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

  • Toronto Western Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

  • McGill University

    Montréal, Quebec H3A2B4
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

  • Hospital Pitie-Salpetriere

    Paris, 75013
    France

    Site Not Available

  • Philipps-University of Marburg

    Hessen, 35043
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Paracelsus-Elena Klinik

    Kassel, 34128
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Luebeck

    Luebeck, 23562
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Tuebingen

    Tuebingen, 72076
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens

    Athens, 11523
    Greece

    Active - Recruiting

  • Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

    Tel Aviv, 64239
    Israel

    Active - Recruiting

  • Universita Federico II

    Napoli, 80131
    Italy

    Site Not Available

  • University of Salerno

    Salerno, 84131
    Italy

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Luxembourg

    Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4367
    Luxembourg

    Site Not Available

  • Parkinson Research Clinic

    Luxembourg, L-1257
    Luxembourg

    Active - Recruiting

  • Radboud University

    Nijmegen, Gelderland 6525 GC
    Netherlands

    Active - Recruiting

  • Lagos College of Medicine, University of Lagos

    Lagos, 121010
    Nigeria

    Active - Recruiting

  • St. Olavs Hospital

    Trondheim, 7006
    Norway

    Site Not Available

  • Hospital Clinic de Barcelona

    Barcelona, 08036
    Spain

    Active - Recruiting

  • Hospital Donostia

    San Sebastian, 20014
    Spain

    Active - Recruiting

  • Queen Mary University of London

    London, Britain EC1M 6BQ
    United Kingdom

    Active - Recruiting

  • Newcastle University

    Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear NE45PL
    United Kingdom

    Active - Recruiting

  • Imperial College London

    London, W12 0NN
    United Kingdom

    Active - Recruiting

  • John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford and Oxford University

    Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU
    United Kingdom

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, Alabama 35294
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Barrow Neurological Institute

    Phoenix, Arizona 85013
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

    Scottsdale, Arizona 85259
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Banner Research Institute

    Sun City, Arizona 85351
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of California San Diego

    La Jolla, California 92093-0948
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Keck School of Medicine of USC

    Los Angeles, California 90033
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, California 94115
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Aurora, Colorado 80045
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Institute For Neurodegenerative Disorders

    New Haven, Connecticut 06510
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Parkinson's Disease& Movement Disorder Center of Boca Raton

    Boca Raton, Florida 33486
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Florida

    Gainesville, Florida 32608
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of South Florida

    Tampa, Florida 33606
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Emory University School of Medicine

    Atlanta, Georgia 30329
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois 60611
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Kansas Medical Center

    Kansas City, Kansas 66160
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, Maryland 21287
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Boston University

    Boston, Massachusetts 02118
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts 02446
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

    Las Vegas, Nevada 89106
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Beth Israel Medical Center

    New York, New York 10003
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Columbia University Medical Center

    New York, New York 10032
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • NYU Langone Health

    New York, New York 10017
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Rochester

    Rochester, New York 14620
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Children's Hospital

    Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Cleveland Clinic

    Cleveland, Ohio 44195
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Oregon Health &Science University

    Portland, Oregon 97239
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • University of Pittsburgh

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Baylor College of Medicine

    Houston, Texas 77030
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Univ of Washington and VA Puget Sound Health Care System

    Seattle, Washington 98104
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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