Psychosocial Symptoms Equal Motor Burden In Early Parkinson’s

Psychosocial problems (depression, anxiety, apathy, isolation, etc.) have become major disabling problems for people with early Parkinson’s disease. A parallel approach must be taken to these motor symptoms from the first day of patient care and from the clinical evaluation through to access to appropriate medications and supports for patients and their families.

New Research

Tremor and rigidity are common features of the motor disorder of Huntington’s disease, but neither causes a significant increase in problematicness over time. It is the problems of a more functional and psychosocial nature that change dramatically in severity over the first three years of illness.

Why It Matters

Parkinson’s disease is typically characterized by tremor, bradykinesia and impaired gait. However, the non‑motor and psychosocial features can have as profound an adverse effect on quality of life and outcome as the motor features. If left untreated, these features can have a profound effect on work, social activity and overall health status, potentially preventing individuals with Parkinson’s disease from fully participating in exercises and rehabilitation programs that could be of benefit.

A three-year follow-up was conducted of 29 individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). While 97% of the patients were reported to have tremor at year 3, the ‘work of living’ increased most markedly in all patients, affecting 100% by year 3, up from 36% at year 1.

What the Data Says