Objective: To explore the relation between the non-motor symptoms (NMS) of PD and the involvement of brainstem through studying VEMPs.

Background: Degeneration of several brainstem nuclei and their connections is responsible- at least partially- for different neurotransmitters disruption, resulting in different NMS of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The NMS of PD related to brainstem dysfunction could be related to changes in vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs).

Methods: Fifteen patients with PD were recruited and their motor and non-motor features were assessed using UPDRS and Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), respectively. Cervical and ocular VEMPs (cVEMP & oVEMP) were tested in “On-state” for all patients and correlated to different domains of NMSS.

Results: Contralateral and ipsilateral cVEMP responses showed significant correlation to most of NMSS domains. They were significantly correlated to NMS- sleep (p=0.03 & 0.001), NMS-perception (p=0.03), memory (p=0.025), and urinary scores (p=0.03). Sexual dysfunction was moderately correlated (p=.045). The oVEMP responses showed significant correlations to lesser NMS domains including NMS-CVS (p= 0.01), sexual dysfunction (p=0.013) and perception (moderate correlation, p =0.047). GIT showed no significant correlation with VEMP responses.

Conclusions: Cervical and ocular VEMPs are related to different NMS manifestations and could be considered as neurophysiological biomarkers for NMS related brainstem dysfunction, however, further studies are warranted.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/vestibular-evoked-myogenic-potentials-as-biomarkers-for-non-motor-symptoms-of-parkinsons-disease/