Changes of hand preference in Parkinson's disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Human Motor Control

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting motor function.
• Hand preference, or lateralization of manual skills, can be influenced by various factors, including neurological conditions.
• Understanding changes in hand preference in PD patients is crucial for assessing disease progression and impact on daily living.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between pre-morbid hand preference and current hand preference in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
• To determine if the side of initial PD symptom onset influences the shift in hand preference.
• To explore the correlation between disease duration and the magnitude of hand preference change.

Main Methods:

• A survey instrument was developed to assess pre-morbid and current hand preference.
• Questions regarding the initial side of symptom occurrence in PD were included.
• Data were collected from 471 patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Main Results:

• A significant shift in hand preference was observed in PD patients.
• Patients who initially showed right-hand preference shifted towards left-hand use when PD onset was on the right side, and vice versa.
• The duration of Parkinson's disease did not correlate with the extent of hand preference alteration.

Conclusions:

• Parkinson's disease onset lateralization is a significant factor in modifying hand preference.
• Hand preference shifts in PD patients are linked to the affected side, not disease duration.
• These findings highlight the complex interplay between neurodegeneration and motor lateralization.