The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease has doubled in the past 25 years, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report from 2023. With rates of the disease in Canada among the highest in the world, there’s a growing need for new approaches to enable more people living with Parkinson’s to manage symptoms and improve quality of life, beyond medications and clinic appointments.
This is an issue Jude Bek, a postdoctoral fellow in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) at the University of Toronto, hopes to help address with her new research. She was recently awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fellowship to pursue a research project investigating motor-cognitive strategies to support neurorehabilitation for Parkinson’s.
The three-year global fellowship is a DOROTHY (Develop Interdisciplinary Approaches to Health Crises Collaboratively) award, co-funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020 MSCA, the Irish Research Council (IRC), the Health Research Board (HRB), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The first phase of the research will be conducted with Professor Tim Welsh, associate dean of research for KPE, in the Action & Attention lab.
“It is fantastic to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Bek over the next three years,” says Welsh. “Her innovative approaches to supporting the maintenance of movement capabilities of people with Parkinson’s disease brings new knowledge and perspectives to my lab and to our Faculty.
“The international nature of this award adds an important dimension that expands networking and collaborative opportunities for Dr. Bek and all members of our Faculty.”
Bek’s research at U of T will use a 3D video-based motion capture system to record participants’ movements. This technology will enable her to measure the effects of watching, imagining and performing dance sequences on outcomes such as speed and smoothness of movement in people with and without Parkinson’s. She will also explore the use of non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance effects.
“We know from previous research that watching and imagining movement engages the brain’s motor system and facilitates motor performance and learning,” she says. “Dance has also shown positive outcomes for people with Parkinson’s and could provide an enjoyable and low-cost approach to train motor-cognitive strategies.”
In the second phase of the fellowship, Bek will return to University College Dublin, Ireland, where she will develop and pilot a home training protocol with motor-cognitive strategies and dance for people with Parkinson’s.
“I will work with health professionals, specialist dance instructors, and people living with Parkinson’s throughout the project to ensure that the research is meaningful and relevant, and that the results reach the people who may benefit,” she says.
“My background is in psychology and neuroscience, so conducting my research in KPE at U of T has opened up opportunities to learn new research techniques and scientific perspectives, and to build international collaborations with leading researchers in motor control.
“It has also enabled me to connect with the Parkinson’s community and other researchers both in Toronto and across Canada.”