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Freezing gait in Parkinson's disease
P Lamberti1, S Armenise, V Castaldo
1Institute of Neurology, University of Bari, Italy.
European Neurology
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Freezing gait (FG) affects 60% of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, often appearing years after diagnosis. This study found FG more prevalent in women and linked to disease duration and akinetic PD forms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Movement Disorders
- Parkinson's Disease Research
Background:
- Freezing gait (FG) is a debilitating motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Understanding FG prevalence and associated factors is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the occurrence of freezing gait (FG) in a cohort of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
- To investigate correlations between FG and patient demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based assessment of freezing gait (FG) was administered to 100 consecutive Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
- Data collected included patient demographics, disease duration, L-Dopa treatment status, and PD subtype (akinetic vs. tremor-predominant).
Main Results:
- Freezing gait (FG) was reported in 60% of the Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
- FG onset averaged 4.8 years after PD diagnosis, with 16% experiencing FG before L-Dopa treatment.
- FG was more frequent in female patients, those with longer disease duration (p < 0.001), and the akinetic PD subtype (OR: 3.05).
Conclusions:
- Freezing gait (FG) is a common phenomenon in Parkinson's disease (PD), significantly associated with disease duration and akinetic symptoms.
- Gender and disease duration are important factors to consider in the assessment and management of freezing gait (FG) in PD patients.