Objective: To characterize the frequency, phenomenology, subjective relevance, and daily life impact of motor and non-motor fluctuations in a multicenter cohort of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with early-onset fluctuations (<3 years).
Background: Available scales aim to capture the diversity of motor and non-motor fluctuations that may develop during the course of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, few studies have examined which specific motor and non-motor fluctuations are perceived as having the greatest impact on various dimensions of daily living. Moreover, limited information is available regarding which instrumental and advanced activities of daily living are most affected. The development of new “on-demand” therapies has further increased interest in identifying the daily activities that could be most effectively improved with these treatments.
Method: Prospective, multicenter study including 76 patients with PD and early fluctuations (<3 years). An open, structured interview was conducted to characterize the phenomenology, personal relevance, and impact of motor and non-motor fluctuations. The Non-Motor Fluctuation Assessment (NoMoFA) questionnaire, Wearing-Off Questionnaire-19 (WOQ-19), and Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) were administered to facilitate a more objective identification of fluctuations and to assess their impact on daily functioning.
Results: In 76 PD patients (♀48.6%, age 63 ± 9 y, D.Duration 5.8 ± 2 y) with early motor fluctuations (1.8 ± 0.7 y), the most frequently reported and disabling off-period symptoms were motor (bradykinesia, tremor, and gait disorder). Non-motor fluctuations were best captured by NoMoFa, with anergia (74%), pain (30%), word-finding difficulties (30%), and anxiety/restlessness (27%). Nearly half (48.8%) indicated that fluctuations had a predominant impact on social interactions, hobbies, and instrumental activities outside the home.
Conclusion: Capturing the full spectrum of PD fluctuations requires both structured interviews and validated questionnaires. Despite nearly half of patients in this cohort showed a predominant impact of fluctuations in social activities, no validated tool currently assesses this dimension properly.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
J. Pagonabarraga, F. Escamilla-Sevilla, B. La Casa-Fages, N. Lopez-Ariztegui, J. Ruiz-Martinez, R. Garcia-Ramos, J. Infante, P. Mir, O. de Fabregues, F. Valldeoriola, Y. Compta. Seeing the Full Picture: How Subjective and Objective Data Capture the Daily Impact of Fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease. [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/seeing-the-full-picture-how-subjective-and-objective-data-capture-the-daily-impact-of-fluctuations-in-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/seeing-the-full-picture-how-subjective-and-objective-data-capture-the-daily-impact-of-fluctuations-in-parkinsons-disease/