Objective: To assess the frequency of NMS in PSP and compare them to age, gender and duration of illness matched PD patients.

Background: Non-motor symptoms (NMS) is one of the major contributors towards disability and impaired quality of life in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) as well as Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods: Patients with PSP (diagnosed based on NINDS-SPSP criteria) and age, gender and duration of illness matched PD (diagnosed based on UK brain bank criteria) were assessed for NMS using questionnaire (NMSQ). Unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale-part III (UPDRS-III) was done in medication OFF state. The frequency of NMS in patients with PSP and PD were analysed and compared. p value<0.05 considered as significant.

Results: Forty patients with probable/possible PSP (67.5% men) with mean age of 61.2±6.7 years and duration of illness 3.0±2.7 years were recruited. Patients with 10 or more NMS were similar in PSP (37.5%) and PD group (32.5%). There was no significant difference in NMS score between patients with PSP (8.4±4.2) and PD (7.7±4.3). Sialorrhea (PSP-40%,PD-10%;p<0.002), dysphagia (PSP-47.5%,PD-12.5%;p=0.001), falls (PSP-90%,PD-12.5%;p,0.001), difficulty staying awake (PSP-35%,PD-7.5%;p=0.002) were seen significantly more often in patients with PSP while there was a trend towards significance for urinary urgency (PSP-47.5%,PD-30%;p=0.11) and difficulty performing sex (PSP-47.5%,PD-27.5%;p=0.07). Symptoms of incomplete bowel emptying sensation (PSP-15%,PD-40%;p=0.012), restless leg (PSP-5%,PD-22.5%;p=0.026), vivid dreams (PSP-5%,PD-37.5%;p<0.001) and dream enactment (PSP-12.5%,PD-35%;p=0.021) were more often seen in patients with PD compared to PSP. There was no significant difference between change in ability to smell/taste (PSP-15%,PD22.5%;p=0.39).

Conclusions: Although there was no significant difference between overall score of NMS, type of NMS differs between patients with PSP and PD.

References: 1. Radicati FG, Martinez Martin P, Fossati C et al. Non motor symptoms in progressive supranuclear palsy: prevalence and severity. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2017 Dec 8;3:35. doi: 10.1038/s41531-017-0037-x. 2. Ou R, Song W, Wei Q et al. Characteristics of Nonmotor Symptoms in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Parkinsons Dis. 2016;2016:9730319. doi: 10.1155/2016/9730319.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/comparative-study-of-non-motor-symptoms-in-patients-with-progressive-supranuclear-palsy-and-age-gender-duration-of-illness-matched-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/