Objective: The current study reports outcomes from a 2 year-long community-based multidisciplinary program for individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and their families based in Oklahoma (United States).

Background: More than 10 million people around the world are currently living with Parkinson disease (PD). Several behavioral interventions, including speech therapy, physical exercise programs including recreational therapy, have been reported to be effective in managing and reducing disease progression among people with PD.

Method: The study included 10 participants with mild-moderate PD (average age= 74.2 years, disease duration= 7.2 years at baseline; 6 females) for different speech and cognitive outcomes during 2 years. In addition, 3-5 participants from this group have been monitored for the physical mobility and gait outcomes for the past two years. Some participants were lost at 2-year follow-up for RT outcomes due to COVID-19, and one participant was lost to attrition.

Results: Test scores for PDQ-39, EQ-5D, BDI-II, DRS-2, SDQ, VHI, BDI were converted to z-scores due to different instruments’ scaling. Nonparametric tests were completed, and multiple paired samples Friedman test results indicated no statistically significant differences between baseline and 2-year results for PDQ-39, EQD-5, BDI-II, VHI, and DRS-2 (all p > .05). However, Spearman correlations indicated significant positive correlation between baseline VHI and baseline DRS-2 scores (r= – .855; p= .030), and between 2-year EQ-5D and 2-year VHI scores (r= -.743; p= .02). Preliminary results indicated a statistically significant change in the pre to post Tug Scores (Z = -2.023, p= .043); negative correlation between pre-post scores of Biodex BioSway and pre-TUG Scores, and post overall stability index eyes open (correlation coefficient = -.900, p= .05). Next, the pre Modified Falls Efficacy Scale and the post overall stability index eyes open were positively correlated (r = .900, p= .05), pre and post MFES were also significant (r = .975, p= .01). Finally, the pre & post Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores for anxiety (r= .975, p= .01). The HADS-Anxiety approached statistically significant outcomes (Z = -1.841, p= .066).

Conclusion: Current results indicate that the CANe project helped with improvements in function as well as maintaining functioning levels among participants with PD.

References: 1. Alberta Health Services. Timed-up-and-go (TUG) test. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 39, 142-148. 2. Biodex Medical Systems Inc. BioSway Portable Balance System operation manual. http://www.biodex.com/sites/default/files/950460man_10202revd.pdf. Accessed December 4, 2018. 3. Jacobson, B.H., Johnson, A., Grywalski, C., Silbergleit, A., Jacobson, G., Benninger, M.S., … Newman, C.W. (1997). The Voice Handicap Index (VHI): Development and validation. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 6, 66- 70. 4. Miller, N. (2012). Speech, voice, and language in Parkinson’s disease: Changes and interventions. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 2(3), 279-289. 5. Mattis, S. (2004). The Dementia Rating Scale-2 (DRS- 2).Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. 6. Parkinson’s Foundation. (2021). Retrieved on March 6, 2021 from https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Statistics?_ga=2.72066199.580164167.1554047767-1543185907.1554047767 7. Poewe, W., Seppi, K., Tanner, C.M., Halliday, G.M., Brundin, P., Volkmann, J., … , Lang, A.E. (2017). Parkinson disease. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 3, 17013. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2017.13. 8. Tinetti, M., Richman, D.et al. (1990). Falls efficacy as a measure of fear of falling. Journal of Gerontology, 45(6), 239.

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