Unmasking gastrointestinal symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A practical and discrete gut health questionnaire

Gastrointestinal dysfunction represents a pervasive and disabling group of non-motor symptoms that often go unrecognized and untreated in Parkinson's Disease(PD). These symptoms can affect levodopa responsiveness, quality of life, and nutritional status. Because gastrointestinal symptoms may be highly stigmatizing or embarrassing, some patients-particularly those from certain cultural backgrounds and genders-may feel uncomfortable raising these concerns or answering sensitive questions in the presence of family members or caregivers during clinic visits. To address this gap, a brief, discrete questionnaire was developed to facilitate proactive and practical screening andto operationalize the consensus recommendations for the management of GI dysfunction in PD established by the Parkinson Study Group. The questionnaire can be completed by patients before their visit or administered privately by nursing staff or physicians, thereby promoting recognition of GI symptoms and improving the quality of care for individuals with PD.