Quincy J Almeida
Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
Title: A ‘Look’ into the Underlying Mechanisms and Rehabilitation Interventions for Gait Impairment in Parkinson’s disease.
Biography
Biography: Quincy J Almeida
Abstract
Gait and balance deficits are arguably the most debilitating symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD), as well as the leading cause of loss of independence and quality of life in PD. One example is the so-called ‘freezing phenomena’, in which patients report feeling like their feet are glued to the ground leaving them unable to make their next step. This motor symptom is argued by many to dopa-resistant, and often leads to an increased risk of trips and falls. Thus, it is considered one of the most severe gait disorder associated with advanced PD.
This presentation will utilize a series of experiments to systematically disentangle the sensory, perceptual, cognitive and emotional processes involved in the planning and control of human walking, In order to enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the typical motor symptoms seen in PD. Subsequently, these basic science discoveries will be translated into therapeutic interventions that target these mechanisms, with the goal of identifying the most novel and effective rehabilitation strategies recommended for PD.