Objective: To determine the feasibility, reliability, and value of using a smartphone application to longitudinally track motor and non-motor features of Parkinson disease (PD).  Further, to evaluate our ability to construct “social maps” that can discriminate between those with and without PD.

Background: Available means for capturing clinical data in individuals with PD are subjective and episodic.  Novel means that enable continuous, remote, objective assessment of PD symptoms are needed.  Remote collection of data via smartphone applications (apps) may offer an objective, feasible, and cost-effective alternative for monitoring clinical progression in PD.

Methods: We aim to enroll 100 individuals (50 with PD and 50 healthy controls).  Participants are asked to complete smartphone activities on either an iOS (mPower by Sage Bionetworks) or Android (HopkinsPD by Max Little) device up to three times a day for six months.  Smartphone activities assess voice, dexterity, tremor, gait, and memory.  The apps passively collect voice call, text, individual activity, and general mobility data in order to construct “social maps.”  In-clinic assessments (conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months) include the MDS Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Timed Up and Go, Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Rating Scales, Parkinson Anxiety Scale, and Schwab & England Activities of Daily Living Scale.  For PD participants, the 6 month visit includes an optional “on/off” evaluation exploring response to dopaminergic therapy. 

Results: As of January 2017, 72 individuals have enrolled (59% PD), 48 have completed at least two visits, and 18 have completed the study.  Median age is 65 years and 50% of participants are women.  Among those with PD, the median MDS-UPDRS score was 36 (IQR 26-59) and the mean Hoehn and Yahr score was 1.8±0.7.  94% of participants who have completed the study were willing to use the app again and were interested in using similar apps to track other aspects of their health.

Conclusions: Preliminary results of the study suggest that smartphone-based assessments are feasible and acceptable to patients with varying disease severities.  Further data analysis will evaluate our ability to use smartphone apps to predict the motor portion of the MDS-UPDRS, detect response to dopaminergic therapy, and construct clinically meaningful “social maps.”

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-of-using-a-smartphone-application-for-the-objective-evaluation-of-parkinson-disease/