The Challenge

Parkinson's can cause many problems beyond shaking and stiffness. Things like trouble sleeping, feeling tired, low mood, worry, pain, and memory difficulties can affect your daily life just as much — but they often get missed.

You might only see your doctor every few months. A lot can change in that time, and it can be hard to remember everything you want to tell them. Many people with Parkinson's and their carers feel on their own between appointments.

Our Study: Trying Out a Health App on Your Phone

We are running a research study to try out a mobile phone app that helps people with Parkinson's keep track of how they feel every day — not just when they visit their doctor.

The app was built with help from people who live with Parkinson's. Our research team at the DEPTH AI Lab is testing it to find out whether it makes a real difference to people's health and wellbeing.

What the app does

• Keep a daily record of how you feel — Choose from 11 areas of health that Parkinson's can affect, like movement, sleep, mood, pain, tiredness, and thinking. Say how bad it is, what time of day it happens, and add your own notes. If your symptom isn't on the list, you can add it yourself.
• Stay on top of your medicines — Add your medicines, set reminders, and tap to say whether you took them, skipped them, or forgot. You can see your whole schedule in one place.
• Ask questions and get answers — Type or speak a question about Parkinson's, your symptoms, or your medicines. The app's AI assistant will answer in plain language, based on trusted health information and your own profile.
• See how things change over time — Look at simple charts that show how your symptoms have changed over days, weeks, or months. The app can also show your steps, heart rate, sleep, and activity from Apple Health or Google Health Connect.
• Watch videos and read helpful articles — Browse a library of resources about living with Parkinson's, with suggestions picked for you based on what you're interested in.
• Get your carer involved — A family member or carer can set up their own account to see how you're doing (only with your permission) and ask the AI assistant questions about your health, so they can help you better.
• Fill in short questionnaires — From time to time, the app will ask you to answer a few questions about how you're feeling. These help our research team understand whether the app is helping.

Why this is different

This app is not just about collecting data. It is made to be something you actually want to use. It gives you useful information back — about your symptoms, your medicines, and your health over time. Everything you put in helps build a clearer picture that could help your care team look after you better.

What You Would Do

We are looking for people with Parkinson's and their carers to join a six-month study. You take part from home — there are no extra clinic visits.

If you join, you will:

• Download the app to your iPhone or Android phone (we give you a simple guide)
• Use it in your own time — there is no set schedule, you go at your own pace
• Answer short questionnaires in the app every now and then (about 5 to 10 minutes each)
• Tell us what you thought — what you liked, what you didn't, and what could be better

It is free to take part. Our team will help you get set up and answer any questions along the way.

Who Can Join?

• Adults (18 or older) who have been told they have Parkinson's Disease
• Carers or family members of someone with Parkinson's
• You need a smartphone (iPhone or Android)
• You need to live in the United Kingdom

Sign Up Here

Or get in touch for more information: depth.ai@newcastle.ac.uk