Objective: To identify biographic parameters that may have an impact on the different symptoms of parkinson’s disease.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disorder which is widespread all over the world. Despite the progressive nature of the disease, there is little information available on how to influence its course in a positive or negative way.

In a prior research, we identified biographic parameters that correlate with the motor and non-motor symptoms of PD at a single time. In this study, the same patients were revisited five years later to evaluate the influence of the collected parameters on the course of the disease.

Method: We prospectively collected different biographic parameters of 45 PD patients and did clinical examination using the UPDRS and the Hoehn and Yahr scale at two different times at intervals of five years. Mean changes in the UPDRS/Hoehn and Yahr scale were correlated with the collected biographic parameters.

Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS statistics. Correlations were considered significant if they exceeded the 95% significance level.

Results: Various biographical parameters correlated significantly with the progression of the disease as measured by UPDRS/Hoehn and Yahr change. In detail, it could be shown that a smoking history and the presence of diabetes mellitus had a significant positive effect on the course of the disease. The same applied to patients with regular physical activity. Arterial hypertension and the need to take antidepressant medication were significantly associated with a worse course of the disease.

Conclusion: The present study was able to show links between various biographical factors and the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The individual parameters need closer attention: for example, a protective effect of a smoking history in PD patients has been described previously. Neuroprotective properties have also been attributed to various oral antidiabetics. Further information about the background of these relationships is necessary in order to be able to draw conclusions for everyday clinical practice and therapeutic benefit.

References: Ziemen, Leoni & Hetterich, Lydia & Dillmann, Ulrich & Faßbender, Klaus & Spiegel, Jörg. (2020). The impact of biographic factors and lifestyle on the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

« Back to 2023 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-impact-of-biographic-factors-and-lifestyle-on-the-symptoms-of-parkinsons-disease-a-five-year-follow-up/