Menthol for Improving Movement and Sleep in Parkinson's Disease Patients

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms due to the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons. There is currently no cure. Menthol, a natural compound that activates TRPM8 receptors, has shown neuroprotective and motor function benefits in preclinical PD models. In mice, distal limb immersion in menthol improved dopamine neuron survival and motor performance. Similar menthol-based interventions improved outcomes in a stroke model and a clinical trial with stroke patients. This study investigates whether topical menthol can offer therapeutic benefits for individuals with PD.

NCT Number	NCT07294469
Lead Sponsor	Taipei Medical University Hospital Collaborators: China Medical University, Taiwan
Conditions	Parkinson's Disease
Enrollment	80 participants
Start Date	2025-12-15
Primary Completion	2027-07-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-07-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-01-08