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Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: July 24, 2019
Comparing kinematic changes between a finger-tapping task and unconstrained finger flexion-extension task in patients
W P Teo1, J P Rodrigues, F L Mastaglia
1Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Queen Elisabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
Experimental Brain Research
|May 21, 2013
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients show slower finger movement rates and reduced amplitude. Levodopa medication improves both, but movement rate responds better than amplitude in tapping and unconstrained tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Movement Science
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Repetitive finger tapping is a standard clinical assessment for parkinsonian bradykinesia.
- Limited research exists on other finger movement modalities for Parkinson's disease (PD) evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare kinematic changes and levodopa response between index finger-thumb tapping and unconstrained index finger flexion-extension tasks in PD patients.
- To investigate sustained maximal voluntary rate (MVR) movements in individuals with PD compared to healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Eleven individuals with levodopa-responsive PD (OFF and ON states) and 10 healthy controls performed index finger-thumb tapping and unconstrained index finger flexion-extension tasks at MVR for 20 seconds.
- Kinematic parameters including movement rate and amplitude were analyzed for both tasks and conditions.
Main Results:
- The unconstrained flexion-extension task exhibited a greater initial movement rate than the tapping task across all conditions.
- Movement rate and amplitude were reduced in PD patients OFF levodopa, normalizing ON levodopa, though amplitude did not reach control levels.
- Both tasks showed significant declines in rate and amplitude over 20 seconds, with tapping demonstrating a greater amplitude decline in controls and ON states.
Conclusions:
- Both finger movement tasks reveal similar kinematic changes during sustained MVR, but amplitude is less sustained during tapping.
- Levodopa improves both movement rate and amplitude in PD, with rate showing greater responsiveness than amplitude.
