Mobile Parkinson Observatory for Worldwide, Evidence-based Research (mPower)

At enrollment, participants are asked to complete a baseline health history and a participant-reported symptom inventory. Thereafter, participants are asked to respond to commonly used questions that assess Parkinson Disease symptoms and quality of life at regular intervals.

"Participants are asked to record themselves saying Aaah for 10 seconds using the iPhone microphone. This activity is designed to assess vocal features, including vocal tremor. The investigators extract features from the digital audio signals of these sustained phonations. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms and analyze these phonations using methods similar to those employed in the Parkinson Voice Initiative."

Participants are asked to walk back and forth for 30 seconds and then stand still for 30 seconds. Gait and balance are measured by gyroscope and accelerometer sensors. The investigators examine step-dependent and sequence-dependent features from these sensors. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms to analyze these data.

Participants are asked to complete a visuospatial short-term memory game related to the Corsi block tapping test \[Corsi, P.M. (1972)\] as adapted by Kate Possin, PhD of the University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center (personal communication, 2015). In this activity, participants are presented with a grid of objects that change color in a set pattern. Participants are then asked to tap the objects in that same pattern. The investigators assess the sequence length completed.

Participants are asked to tap on the phone screen with alternating fingers. This test can be done with either or both hands. The investigators record the rhythm, speed, and location of these taps using the touch sensors of the iPhone screen. The investigators assess participant dexterity through a combination of steadiness, speed, and tap precision.

Qualitative participant feedback is used to assess participant engagement with, understanding of, and acceptance of app-based research.

Participants complete all described behavioral interventions via a dedicated iPhone app, Parkinson mPower.