Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the postural performance of patients with early and advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) using computerized posturography.

Background: Postural instability (PI) is one of the most disabling motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Objective balance metrics may eventually provide useful biomarkers for PD.

Methods: This study included 61 subjects with a diagnosis of idiopathic PD (65±5 years, 25 men, 36 women) and a group of 53 healthy control subjects of similar age.

Subjects with PD were divided for analysis into 2 groups based on disease severity, quantified by the Hoehn-Yahr scale: 40 subjects with PD in early stage (Hoehn-Yahr stage 1-1,5) without clinical symptoms of PI and 21 – with advanced PD (Hoehn-Yahr stage ≥ 3,0). PD cohort and healthy controls were assessed by the computerized static and dynamic posturography protocol (Diers, Germany). We assessed the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), separately highlighting PIGD subscale, also we measured the disease duration.

Results: The statokinesiogram square size correlated with the duration of PD (r = 0,62, p <0,005), Hoehn and Yahr stage (r = 0,71, p <0,05). Patients with PD showed an increase of statokinesiogram square, gravity center deviation in the frontal plane, basic oscillation spectrum frequency in the frontal and sagittal planes, which are more expressed in the advanced stages of the disease. The average value of general path of gravity center in control group – 10,9 cm, in early PD – 27,2 cm, in advanced PD – 113,0 cm. The statokinesiogram square size (cm²) in 3 group is, correspondingly, 0,18, 1,41 and 15,33.

Conclusions: Therefore, the general path of gravity center and statokinesiogram square size can be used as biomarkers of PD and as markers of disease progression.

References: None

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/objective-biomarkers-of-posture-balance-for-early-and-advanced-parkinsons-disease/