Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society
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The effects of levodopa on balance and gait function in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is controversial. This study compared the relative responsiveness to l-dopa on six domains of balance and gait: postural sway in stance; gait pace; dynamic stability; gait initiation; arm swing; and turning in people with mild and severe PD, with and without dyskinesia. ⋯ The observed spectrum of l-dopa responsiveness in balance and gait measures suggests that multiple neural circuits control balance and gait. Many of the negative effects of l-dopa may be directly or indirectly caused by dyskinesia.
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Observational Study
Correlates of excessive daytime sleepiness in de novo Parkinson's disease: A case control study.
This study was undertaken to determine the frequency and correlates of excessive daytime sleepiness in de novo, untreated Parkinson's disease (PD) patients compared with the matched healthy controls. ⋯ This largest case control study demonstrates no difference in prevalence of excessive sleepiness in subjects with de novo untreated PD compared with healthy controls. The only clinical correlates of sleepiness were mood and autonomic dysfunction. Ongoing longitudinal analyses will be essential to further examine clinical and biological correlates of sleepiness in PD and specifically the role of dopaminergic therapy.