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Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: July 24, 2019
Functional and cognitive capacity differ in dystonic motor subtypes when compared to choreatic and hypokinetic-rigid
Jannis Achenbach1, Sarah Maria von Hein1, Carsten Saft1
1Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Bochum, Germany.
Background:
Motor phenotypes in Huntington's disease vary manifold. Phenotype classification is essential to adapt treatment. The aim of this study was to classify a dystonic subtype closer.
Methods:
A total of 7,512 manifest ENROLL-HD participants were subdivided into mainly choreatic (N = 606), dystonic (N = 402), and hypokinetic-rigid (N = 369) subjects. Cognitive (verbal fluency, symbol digit, stroop color, trail making, Mini-Mental State Examination), functional (total functional capacity, Independence Scale), and psychiatric (problem behaviors assessment, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) performance was evaluated at baseline visit.
Results:
Symptoms onset for dystonic were similar to hypokinetic-rigid, but earlier compared to choreatic subjects (p < .001). Cognition was better in both groups compared to hypokinetic rigid (all p < .001). Functionality differed between all groups (all p < .001). Differences remained (all p < .001) after controlling for CAP score, CAG, age, disease duration, and education.
Conclusions:
Motor subtypes differ in functional and cognitive capacities but less in psychiatric. We identified better cognitive and functional capacities and similar onsets in predominant dystonic compared to hypokinetic-rigid patients.

