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Measuring Constipation in a Drosophila Model of Parkinson's Disease

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Self perceived weakness in Parkinson's disease.

Joseph H Friedman¹, Ana M Abrantes

¹Movement Disorders Program, Butler Hospital, Dept of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 345 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906, USA. Joseph_friedman@brown.edu

Parkinsonism & Related Disorders

|April 24, 2012

Summary

Many Parkinson's disease patients report feeling weak, even without obvious physical signs. This self-perceived weakness is linked to fatigue, impacting quality of life.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Movement Disorders
Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

Parkinson's disease (PD), historically termed "shaking palsy" or "paralysis agitans", does not typically present with clinically apparent weakness.
While objective weakness is not a hallmark, subtle deficits and early muscle fatigue can be detected through specific testing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence of self-perceived weakness (SPW) in Parkinson's disease patients.
To determine the association between SPW and the sensation of fatigue in individuals with PD.

Main Methods:

113 consecutive Parkinson's disease patients, without demonstrable weakness on neurological examination and capable of reliable reporting, were surveyed.
Patients were asked about their perception of weakness and fatigue; no formal fatigue questionnaires or strength measurements were employed.
The motor scale of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale was utilized to assess motor severity in all participants.

Main Results:

Self-perceived weakness (SPW) was reported by 43.8% of the Parkinson's disease patients studied.
SPW demonstrated a significant association with fatigue, but not with bradykinesia, tremor, or overall motor score.
Although common, SPW affects less than half of the PD population, suggesting it is a distinct symptom.

Conclusions:

Self-perceived weakness is a prevalent symptom in Parkinson's disease, particularly when associated with fatigue.
Understanding SPW is crucial as it relates to fatigue, a significant factor influencing the quality of life for individuals with PD.
SPW warrants attention in clinical practice as a subjective experience that may affect patient well-being.