Session Information
Date: Monday, June 20, 2016
Session Title: Parkinson's disease: Non-motor symptoms
Session Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: Exhibit Hall located in Hall B, Level 2
Objective: To determine if Parkinson’s disease patients with REM behavioral disorder (RBD) have worse gait abnormalities and freezing of gait when compared to those without RBD.
Background: RBD, is considered a prodromal sign of PD. Brainstem nuclei, such as pedunculopontine nucleus and locus coeruleus are known to be involved in the control of REM sleep as well as gait coordination. It has therefore been proposed that PD patients with RBD have more gait disability, with regards to both incidence and severity, as compared to PD patients without RBD.
Methods: This is a cross sectional studies involving PD patients from the University of Miami Movement Disorders Clinic. RBD was assessed using the RBD questionnaire. Gait parameters were assessed using wireless sensors (Mobility Lab, APDM Inc). In addition, Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q) and Hamilton depression index were administered.
Results: 42 PD patients stages 2-3 H&Y completed gait and sleep assessments. Mean age was 66 .1 years, with a mean UPDRS part 3 of 30.2(+/-14). The RBD score was 6.4+/-3.3, mean FOG-Q=12.1 (+/- 5.2), mean velocity =0.92 m/s(+/-0.28) and mean stride length 1.04 m(+/-0.26). 24 patients had RBD by questionnaire (score ≥5), with FOG-Q of 12.9 mean velocity of 0.95m/s and stride length of 1.06 m. The non RBD group (n=18) had a mean FOG-Q of 10.9, mean velocity of 1.16m/s and stride length of 1.01m, however the differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusions: In this study we did not find a correlation between presence of RBD and the severity of gait impairment, as measured by FOG-Q and gait kinematics. We believe a larger sample size may be necessary to show a correlation. In addition, future investigations should include objective measures of RBD utilizing polysomnography in combination with our objective gait testing.
Abstract submitted for AAN 2016.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
L.R. Niemand, A. Dang, C. Singer, C.C. Luca. Assessment of gait dysfunction in patients with Parkinson’s disease and REM behavioral disorder [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/assessment-of-gait-dysfunction-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-and-rem-behavioral-disorder/. Accessed November 22, 2024.« Back to 2016 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/assessment-of-gait-dysfunction-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-and-rem-behavioral-disorder/