Characteristics of the Rest and Activity Patterns in Patients With Mild to Moderate Parkinson's Syndrome

Few studies have examined the characteristics of the decline in physical activity levels in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients from the perspective of a 24-h behavioural profile, including sleep.

To identify factors related to the rest and activity patterns in PD patients by assessing the Rest-Activity Rhythm.

The participants were 20 patients with Parkinson's syndrome (PS group) and 20 healthy elderly community residents (control group). The nonparametric rest-activity rhythm parameters were measured by a wristwatch-type activity monitor worn by the study subjects on the non-dominant hand continuously for at least 5 days. To assess the specific symptoms of PS in the patients, the scores on the Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) were collected from the medical records.

In the PS group, a negative correlation was found between the relative amplitude and score for part I of the MDS-UPDRS, that is, non-motor symptoms (r = -0.51, p < 0.05). Additionally, binomial logistic regression analysis revealed two regression models, with Model I showing a significant association with the highest physical activity level over the 24-h profile (odds ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.94-0.99; p = 0.002) and Model II showing a significant association with a fragmented rhythm (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07; p = 0.004).

These results suggest that rehabilitation of PD patients should include increasing their physical activity levels while minimising intermittency of the rest and activity patterns, and that attention should be paid to non-motor symptoms in addition to motor symptoms.