Objective: To characterize the clinical profile related to oculomotor control, balance, motor severity, and frequency of fall in individuals with PD
Background: Extraocular motility is an under investigated field in PD patients, even though diplopia and vague visual symptoms are present in PD patients, with no ophthalmologic explanation. Balance impairments are among the most disabling features of the disease and are associated with an increased risk of falls. Considering the greater reliance on visual input for postural control, as a compensatory mechanism in PD, investigating the interaction between eye movement control, balance, and fall vulnerability may be clinically relevant.
Method: This was a cross-sectional, observational, quantitative study conducted with individuals diagnosed with PD and followed at a tertiary public hospital specialized in neurology in Fortaleza, Brazil. Participants underwent Videonystagmography (VNG), Falls Efficacy Scale–International (FES-I), Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (MiniBESTest), Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y), Schwab & England (S&E). Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), administered according to educational level. Information regarding disease duration, fall history, and physical activity was also collected. Descriptive analysis (mean ± standard deviation) was performed
Results: Eighteen individuals participated, 72.2% male, with a mean age of 55.3 ± 8.9 years and mean disease duration of 7.8 ± 3.5 years. Most participants had more than eight years of education. Regular physical activity was reported by 83.3% (3.9 ± 1.7 days/week; 50.6 ± 12.7 minutes/session). Mean scores were: H&Y 2.0 ± 0.4; S&E 82.7 ± 8.2; Mean MMSE score was 25 ± 3.5, and among participants with higher education, the MoCA mean was 23 ± 4. On VNG, directional error rate was 1.7 ± 3.2% for saccades and 26.5 ± 23.3% for antisaccades. The MiniBESTest mean score was 21.9 ± 3.8. The mean number of falls in the previous six months was 2.3 ± 4.6 episodes
Conclusion: Individuals with PD demonstrate alterations in inhibitory control, cognition, and balance even in non-advanced stages, reinforcing the importance of multidimensional assessment to better understand fall risk in this population.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
I. Monteiro, M. Salmito, B. Fernandes, D. Camelo, F. Rolim, A. Ferreira Gomes, AS. Lima Verde, C. Figueiredo, F. Carvalho. Videonystagmography findings, Postural Balance, and Falls in Parkinson’s disease patients [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/videonystagmography-findings-postural-balance-and-falls-in-parkinsons-disease-patients/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/videonystagmography-findings-postural-balance-and-falls-in-parkinsons-disease-patients/