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Updated: May 24, 2026

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: July 24, 2019
Dopamine modulation affects the performance of parkinsonian patients in a precision motor task measured by an
Cristina Nombela1, Juan Luis Pedreño-Molina, Francisco Ros-Bernal
1NiCE - Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience, CIBERNED, Human Anatomy and Psychobiology Department, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain. cnombela@um.es
Abstract:
Several parameters related to the timing, grip force and load force involved in a precision grasping task were studied in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) at different moments of medication and healthy controls, using a sensorized anthropomorphic device which was totally adapted to the human hand. The aim of this work was to carry out an accurate study of the reach-load-grip-hold-place-release subtasks to identify any physical motor impairment, its relation to medication and Parkinsonian strategies. Twenty seven patients in ON and OFF-like medication moments, and twenty seven age-matched controls took part in the experiment, which consisted of using the index finger and the thumb to perform a precision motor task involving different experimental objects. Visual cues were used as distracting elements. Results showed several motor parameters impaired in OFF-like medication moment but attenuated in ON state, suggesting a medication effect on the performance of the task.
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