Digital Measurements of Motor and Voice Functions in FTD

April 23, 2026 updated by: BioSensics

The primary objective of this clinical study is to provide the initial validation for monitoring biomarkers of symptoms and functioning for individuals with FTLD syndromes.

Researchers at BioSensics and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine will use wearable sensors, computerized speech, psychomotor, and cognitive assessments to create outcome measures and digital biomarkers for FTLD syndromes. Researchers will deploy this digital health solution to monitor 20 patients with FTLD syndromes for 12 months with study visits every 3 months.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) spans the spectrum of rare neurodegenerative disorders affecting movement, behavior, and cognitive function. FTD represents a group of disorders including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP - a severe and rapidly progressive FTD disorder estimated to affect at least 20,000 Americans), frontotemporal dementia (FTD, the second most common cause of early-onset (<65) dementia), primary progressive aphasia, semantic dementia, and corticobasal syndrome.

The primary objective of this clinical study is to provide the initial validation for monitoring biomarkers of symptoms and functioning for individuals with FTLD syndromes.

Twenty patients with FTLD syndromes will be recruited from Johns Hopkins University School of medicine to participate in this 12-month study with visits every 3 months. The investigators aim to assess the correlation between outcomes as measured by the PAMSys pendant and PAMSys ULM wrist monitoring sensors, and clinical/functional assessments used for FTLD syndromes (bvFTD, nfPPA, SD, and CBS), including the FTD Rating Scale (FTDRS), Cortical Basal ganglia Functional Scale (CBFS), PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) (lexical fluency and Go-No-Go tasks), FTLD-CDR, modified Interpersonal Reactivity Index (mIRI Perspective Taking and Empathic Concern subscales summed to obtain a total Empathy score), the Pyramids and Palm Trees test (PPT), the Bedside Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (BWAB-R), digit span, phonemic fluency, category fluency, color trails, and trails A and B in individuals with different stages of FTLD disease severity. The results will be used to develop and validate monitoring symptoms and function in FTLD syndromes. In an exploratory aim, the caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Inventory) and its relationship to patients' empathy levels (mIRI) will be assessed.

The secondary objective of this study is to conduct free-flowing interviews with participants and clinical experts using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This approach will help us examine perceptions of benefit, technology acceptance, technological anxiety, trust, facilitating conditions, perceived risk, and attitudes towards use from the perspectives of both patients and clinicians.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study intends to enroll a diverse population of individuals representative of the general FTLD syndrome population. There are no restrictions based on race or ethnic origin. This study will enroll both male and female participants aged 40 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of possible or probable FTLD syndrome phenotype.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male and female participants aged 40 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of possible or probable FTLD syndrome phenotype.
  • Participants must be fluent in reading and speaking English and must be capable of providing informed consent based on the principal investigator's judgment.
  • Individuals eligible for inclusion must be able to comply with the protocol per the investigator's judgment and must have a caregiver or study partner who is willing and able to assist with all study-related procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any neurological, medical, or psychiatric condition that would preclude or confound participation in study activities based on the investigator's judgment.
  • Individuals who have a history of frequent falls defined as more than 5 falls per month.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD)
20 patients who have a clinical diagnosis of possible or probable FTLD syndrome phenotype.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical Activity Monitoring
Time Frame: 12 months
Following each clinical visit, participants will be asked to wear a PAMSys pendant sensor and two PAMSys ULM wrist sensors for 14 days at home. The average daily number of steps will be measured using the PAMSys pendant.
12 months
Hand Function Monitoring
Time Frame: 12 months
Following each clinical visit, participants will be asked to wear two PAMSys ULM wrist sensors for 14 days at home. Average daily number of hand goal-directed movements will be measured using the PAMSys ULM wrist sensors.
12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI)
Time Frame: 12 months
The ZBI is completed by a reliable caregiver. The ZBI scores range from 0-88, where 88 represents a worse outcome.
12 months
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Time Frame: 12 months
This is a brief global cognitive screening assessment. Scores range from 0 to 30 where 0 represents a worse outcome.
12 months
Cortical Basal Ganglia Functional Scale (CBFS)
Time Frame: 12 months
The CBFS is a rating scale that evaluates experiences in daily living (EDL's) and consists of 14 questions on Motor EDL's and 17 questions on Non-Motor EDL's, each of which are rated on a Likert 5 point scale rating function from 0 to 4, where 0 = Normal or No problems and 4 = Severe problems. The questions are for the patient, but should be answered by both the patient and their caregiver together.
12 months
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (PSPRS)
Time Frame: 12 months
The PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS) is a 28-item clinical assessment used to measure the severity and progression of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Out of the 28-items, 6 are scored on a 3 point scale (0-3) and 22 are scored on a 4 point scale (0-4). The PSPRS ranges from a score of 0-100 with a higher number representing a greater impairment from the disease.
12 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Digital Speech Assessment
Time Frame: 12 months
Using a study tablet, participants will perform a series of digital speech assessments. The collected speech data will be analyzed using BioDigit Speech, an automatic speech analysis software developed by BioSensics.
12 months
Digital Cognitive Assessment
Time Frame: 12 months
Using a study tablet, participants will perform a series of digital cognitive assessments.
12 months
Digital Fine Motor Control Assessment
Time Frame: 12 months
Using a study tablet, participants will perform a series of tapping tests.
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
BioSensics

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Johns Hopkins University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 30, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 30, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • BioDigit FTLD-03
  • Digital Assessment Tools Award (Other Grant/Funding Number: AFTD)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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