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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: July 24, 2019
An investigation of two interventions for micrographia in individuals with Parkinson's disease
M S Bryant1, D H Rintala, E C Lai
1School of Health Professions, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. mon.bryant@yahoo.com
Objective:
This pilot study was designed to compare a change in micrographia between using grid lines and parallel horizontal lines as visual cues in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Design:
Single group pre- and post-test.
Setting:
Research lab.
Participants:
Eleven males with Parkinson's disease.
Interventions:
Practice writing words with parallel and grid lines. The sequence of practising was randomized.
Main Outcome Measures:
Length of words.
Results:
The length of the words after practising with parallel lines was longer than in the initial free writing condition (17.83 ± 3.93 cm vs. 23.36 ± 5.82 cm, P =0.008). The length of the words after practising with grid lines was also longer than during free writing (17.83 ± 3.93 cm vs. 22.65 ± 4.04 cm, P =0.003). The length of the words after practising with parallel lines was not different from that after practising with grid lines.
Conclusion:
Improvements in letter size after practising with horizontal parallel lines and grid lines were not different. The addition of vertical lines to form a grid did not appear to improve the writing more than horizontal lines alone in persons with Parkinson's disease who experienced micrographia.
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