Early Parkinson's disease and non-motor issues
K Ray Chaudhuri1, Yogini Naidu
1Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK. chaudhuriray@hotmail.com
Journal of Neurology
|September 20, 2008
Summary
Non-motor symptoms (NMS) significantly impact Parkinson's disease (PD) quality of life and can appear early, even before motor signs. Tools like NMSQuest help quantify these crucial early indicators.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Non-motor symptoms (NMS) are critical to Parkinson's disease (PD) patient well-being and healthcare costs.
- Many NMS manifest early in PD, some preceding the motor diagnosis.
- Examples include olfactory deficits, REM sleep behavior disorder, constipation, and erectile dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the early onset and significance of NMS in Parkinson's disease.
- To introduce and emphasize the utility of assessment tools for NMS in PD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on NMS in PD.
- Discussion of diagnostic criteria and early symptom presentation.
- Introduction of the Non-Motor Symptom Questionnaire (NMSQuest) and NMS scale.
Main Results:
- NMS significantly affect health, quality of life, and societal costs in PD.
- Early NMS, including olfactory deficit, sleep disturbances, and erectile dysfunction, are common.
- NMSQuest and NMS scale are effective for flagging and quantifying NMS.
Conclusions:
- NMS are pivotal in the PD experience, often appearing before motor symptoms.
- Comprehensive assessment of NMS is essential for managing PD.
- Validated tools like NMSQuest aid in evaluating the full symptom burden of PD.
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