Investigating underlying brain structures and influence of mild and subjective cognitive impairment on dual-task performance in people with Parkinson's disease.

Cognitive impairment can affect dual-task abilities in Parkinson's disease (PD), but it remains unclear whether this is also driven by gray matter alterations across different cognitive classifications. Therefore, we investigated associations between dual-task performance during gait and functional mobility and gray matter alterations and explored whether these associations differed according to the degree of cognitive impairment. Participants with PD were classified according to their cognitive function with 22 as mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), 14 as subjective cognitive impairment (PD-SCI), and 20 as normal cognition (PD-NC). Multiple regression models associated dual-task absolute and interference values of gait speed, step-time variability, and reaction time, as well as dual-task absolute and difference values for Timed Up and Go (TUG) with PD cognitive classification. We repeated these regressions including the nucleus basalis of Meynert, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. We additionally explored whole-brain regressions with dual-task measures to identify dual-task-related regions. There was a trend that cerebellar alterations were associated with worse TUG dual-task in PD-SCI, but also with higher dual-task gait speed and higher dual-task step-time variability in PD-NC. After multiple comparison corrections, no effects of interest were significant. In summary, no clear set of variables associated with dual-task performance was found that distinguished between PD cognitive classifications in our cohort. Promising but non-significant trends, in particular regarding the TUG dual-task, do however warrant further investigation in future large-scale studies.

Feasibility of a novel eHealth intervention for Parkinson's disease targeting motor-cognitive function in the home.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) drastically affects motor and cognitive function, but evidence shows that motor-cognitive training improves disease symptoms. Motor-cognitive training in the home is scarcely investigated and eHealth methods can provide continual support for PD self-management. Feasibility testing is however required. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility (i) Recruitment capability (ii) Acceptability and Suitability (iii) Demand and Safety of a home-based motor-cognitive eHealth exercise intervention in PD. METHODS: The 10-week intervention was delivered using the ExorLive® application and exercises were individually adapted and systematically progressed and targeted functional strength, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and motor-cognitive function. People with mild-to moderate PD were assessed before and after the intervention regarding; gait performance in single and dual-task conditions; functional mobility; dual-task performance; balance performance; physical activity level; health related quality of life and perceived balance confidence and walking ability; global cognition and executive function. Feasibility outcomes were continuously measured using a home-exercise diary and contact with a physiotherapist. Changes from pre- and post-intervention are reported descriptively. RESULTS: Fifteen participants (mean age 68.5 years) commenced and 14 completed the 10-week intervention. In relation to intervention Acceptability, 64% of the motor sessions and 52% of motor-cognitive sessions were rated as "enjoyable". Concerning Suitability, the average level of exertion (Borg RPE scale) was light (11-12). Adherence was high, with 86% of all (420) sessions reported as completed. No falls or other adverse events occurred in conjunction with the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This motor-cognitive eHealth home exercise intervention for PD was safe and feasible in terms of Recruitment capability, Acceptability, Safety and Demand. The intensity of physical challenge needs to be increased before testing in an efficacy trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05027620).

Exercise as medicine in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an incurable and progressive neurological disorder leading to deleterious motor and non-motor consequences. Presently, no pharmacological agents can prevent PD evolution or progression, while pharmacological symptomatic treatments have limited effects in certain domains and cause side effects. Identification of interventions that prevent, slow, halt or mitigate the disease is therefore pivotal. Exercise is safe and represents a cornerstone in PD rehabilitation, but exercise may have even more fundamental benefits that could change clinical practice. In PD, the existing knowledge base supports exercise as (1) a protective lifestyle factor preventing the disease (ie, primary prevention), (2) a potential disease-modifying therapy (ie, secondary prevention) and (3) an effective symptomatic treatment (ie, tertiary prevention). Based on current evidence, a paradigm shift is proposed, stating that exercise should be individually prescribed as medicine to persons with PD at an early disease stage, alongside conventional medical treatment.

Predictors of Sustained Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic in People With Parkinson Disease in Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, people with Parkinson disease (PwPD) reported deterioration in health and physical activity. The aim of this study was to describe 1-year changes in physical activity and perceived health in PwPD during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify predictors of sustained physical activity. METHODS: This study compared perceived health and sensor-derived physical activity (Actigraph GT3x) in PwPD between the first (June to July 2020) and third waves (June to July 2021) of the pandemic. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to predict sustained physical activity across the study period using personal factors, disease severity, and functioning as independent variables. RESULTS: Sixty-three PwPD (mean age 71.0 years, 41% females) completed both baseline and 1-year follow-up (26 lost to follow-up). PwPD showed a decrease in average number of steps per day (Δ415 steps, P = 0.048), moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity (Δ7 minutes, P = 0.007) and increase in sedentary time (Δ36 minutes, P <.001) between baseline and 1-year follow-up. While self-perceived walking impairments and depressive symptoms increased significantly, balance confidence decreased between baseline and 1-year follow-up, no significant changes occurred for self-rated health, quality of life, or anxiety. Significant predictors of sustained physical activity levels were 15 years or more of education (odds ratio [OR] = 7.38, P = 0.013) and higher perceived walking ability (OR = 0.18, P = 0.041). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Among PwPD with mild to moderate disease severity living in Sweden, factors associated with reduced physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic included older age, lower education levels, and greater perceived walking difficulties.

Validation of algorithms for calculating spatiotemporal gait parameters during continuous turning using lumbar and foot mounted inertial measurement units.

Spatiotemporal gait parameters such as step time and walking speed can be used to quantify gait performance and determine physical function. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) allow for the measurement of spatiotemporal gait parameters in unconstrained environments but must be validated against a gold standard. While many IMU systems and algorithms have been validated during treadmill walking and overground walking in a straight line, fewer studies have validated algorithms during more complex walking conditions such as continuous turning in different directions. This study explored the concurrent validity in a population of healthy adults (range 26-52 years) of three different algorithms using lumbar and foot mounted IMUs to calculate spatiotemporal gait parameters: two methods utilizing an inverted pendulum model, and one method based on strapdown integration. IMU data was compared to a Vicon twelve-camera optoelectronic system, using data collected from 9 participants performing straight walking and continuous walking trials at different speeds, resulting in 162 walking trials in total. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCA,1) for absolute agreement were calculated between the algorithm outputs and Vicon output. Temporal parameters were comparable in all methods and ranged from moderate to excellent, except double support time which was poor. Strapdown integration performed better for estimating spatial parameters than pendulum models during straight walking, but worse during turning. Selecting the most appropriate model should take into consideration both speed and walking condition.

Träning och protein för funktion och självtillit.

Exercise and protein for function and self-confidence - The OPEN model for community care of older persons Experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic indicate the need to introduce care routines for health promotion among recipients of care for older persons. A treatment model with daily repeated sit-to-stand exercises in combination with oral protein supplements twice daily has been evaluated in community care for older persons in the Stockholm Region; the Older Person's Exercise and Nutrition (OPEN) Study. The 3-month controlled study included 102 residents. A substantial part of the residents were able to follow the intervention, and to maintain or improve their chair-rising capacity, while also increasing their weight and muscle mass. Interview studies showed that the participants found the OPEN concept was easy to adopt, gave increased self-confidence and an increased sense of hope. The staff perceived the intervention as a potentially positive concept. The OPEN model is a method that may contribute to a health-promoting way of working in the care of older persons.

Design of the STEPS trial: a phase II randomized controlled trial evaluating eHealth-supported motor-cognitive home training for Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Electronic health (eHealth) technology offers the potential to support and motivate physical activity for symptom management in Parkinson's disease (PD). It is also recommended that motor exercise in PD be complemented with cognitive training aimed at attentional or executive functions. This paper describes the protocol for a double-blind randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of motor-cognitive training in the home environment, supported by eHealth. METHODS/DESIGN: The Support for home Training using Ehealth in Parkinsons diseaSe (STEPS) is a double-blind single center randomized controlled trial. Two parallel groups will include in total 120 participants with mild to moderate PD who will receive either (i) the intervention (a progressive 10-week individualized motor-cognitive eHealth training with cognitive behavioral elements to increase physical activity levels) or (ii) an active control group (an individualized 10-week paper-based home exercise program). The active control group will not receive motor-cognitive exercises or cognitive behavioral approaches to increase physical activity level. The primary outcome is walking capacity assessed by the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Secondary outcomes will include gait performance during single and dual task conditions, gait speed, functional mobility and lower limb strength, balance, physical activity behavior and a range of patient reported outcome measures relevant in PD. DISCUSSION: The STEPS trial will answer the question whether 10 weeks of eHealth supported motor-cognitive exercise in the home environment can improve walking capacity in PD when compared to a standard paper exercise program. Findings from this study will also strengthen the evidence concerning the efficacy of PD-specific eHealth interventions with a view meeting future health care demands by addressing issues of inaccessibility to specialized neurological rehabilitation in PD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov August 2022, NCT05510739.

The Swedish King's Parkinson's disease Pain Scale: Validation and pain prevalence in persons with mild-moderate severity Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To examine convergent and divergent validity of the King's Parkinson's disease Pain Scale - Swedish translated version, and to determine the prevalence of pain according to scale domains in persons with Parkinson's disease. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, validation study. PATIENTS: Ninety-seven persons with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: The pain scale was translated into Swedish by an accredited company, and permission was granted to use the resultant version. Participants completed the rater-administered The King's Parkinson's disease Pain Scale - Swedish version, the visual analogue scale (pain), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (bodily discomfort subscale), MiniBESTest and Walk-12G. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the strength of associations. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) age of participants was 71 (6.1) years, 63% were male, and 76% presented with mild disease severity. The mean (standard deviation) The King's Parkinson's disease Pain Scale - Swedish version score was 7.84 (12.8). A strong (r = 0.65) and moderate (r = 0.45) association was found between the newly-translated version and visual analogue scale (pain) and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire - bodily discomfort subscale, respectively. Weak associations were found between the newly translated version and divergent measures. Overall pain prevalence was 57%, with musculoskeletal pain being the most common, followed by chronic and radicular pain. CONCLUSION: This study affirms aspects of validity of the Swedish King's Parkinson's disease Pain Scale. Most participants presented with 1 or more types of pain, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Struggling to Keep Up and Have a Good Life: A Qualitative Study of Living With Impaired Balance Control Due to Multiple Sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore and describe the experiences of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) living with impaired balance control and how balance impairment can be managed in everyday life. METHODS: A qualitative design was used. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative inductive content analysis. Sixteen participants (12 women) with MS and variation in level of balance control were interviewed. Age ranged between 35 and 64 years, and overall MS-disability ranged between 2.0 (mild) and 5.5 (moderate) according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale. RESULTS: Five main categories emerged: Balance is an automatic skill that now requires attention; contributors to balance impairment; burdens of balance impairment; management of balance impairment; and negotiation between capacity and ambition for continuing the good life. Body functions emphasized as central to keeping balance were somatosensory-motor functions, vision, and management of fatigue. Day-to-day variation in capacity and being in stimuli-rich environments were conditions highlighted as impacting balance. The main categories yielded the overarching theme of being restrained by impaired balance control and struggling to keep up. CONCLUSION: Participants with MS described balance impairment as balance no longer being an automatic skill and having an adverse impact on everyday life. A strong effort was shown to not let shortcomings control and determine quality of life. To manage limitations and restrictions and to move forward in the struggle to keep up a good life, an extensive toolbox of strategies aiming to minimize the impact of balance impairment was used to maintain quality of life. IMPACT: This study highlights the importance of person-centered health care in MS, with increased awareness of the individual perspective of how balance impairment is perceived. The person-centered focus increases both quality and efficiency in therapy since it involves the individual's thoughts of a life where participation in valued activities is less restricted.

Mobile health technology, exercise adherence and optimal nutrition post rehabilitation among people with Parkinson's Disease (mHEXANUT) - a randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Although it is well known that regular physical activity and exercise, as well as maintaining adequate nutritional status is important to delaying symptom development and maintaining physical capacity and function in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), many are unable to follow self-management recommendations. Active interventions have shown short-term effects, but there is a need for interventions that facilitate self-management over the course of the disease. Until now, no studies have combined exercise and nutritional interventions with an individual self-management approach in PD. Thus, we aim to examine the effect of a six-month mobile health technology(m-health)-based follow-up programme, focusing on self-management in exercise and nutrition, after an in-service interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. METHODS: A single-blinded, two-group randomised controlled trial. Participants are Adults aged 40 or older, with idiopathic PD, Hoehn and Yahr 1-3, living at home. The intervention group receives a monthly, individualized, digital conversation with a PT, combined with use of an activity tracker. People at nutritional risk get additional digital-follow-up from a nutritional specialist. The control group receives usual care. The primary outcome is physical capacity, measured by 6-min walk test (6MWT). Secondary outcomes are nutritional status, Health related quality of life (HRQOL), physical function and exercise adherence. All measurements are performed at baseline, after 3 months and after 6 months. Sample size, based on primary outcome, is set at 100 participants randomized into the two arms, including an estimated 20% drop out. DISCUSSION: The increasing prevalence of PD globally makes it even more important to develop evidence-based interventions that can increase motivation to stay active, promote adequate nutritional status and improve self-management in people with PD. The individually tailored digital follow-up programme, based on evidence-based practice, has the potential to promote evidence-based decision-making and to empower people with PD to implement exercise and optimal nutrition in their daily lives and, hopefully, increase adherence to exercise and nutritional recommendations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04945876). First registration 01.03.2021.

Implicit Motor Sequence Learning in People with Mild to Moderate Parkinson's Disease: Behavior and Related Brain Function.

BACKGROUND: Deficits in motor learning could be an important explanation for the balance and gait impairments characteristic of people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Empirical studies often report that so-called implicit motor sequence learning is impaired in people with PD, but the results are inconclusive. Altered brain activity during implicit motor sequence learning has also been reported for people with PD in comparison to healthy individuals. OBJECTIVE: To investigate implicit motor sequence learning and associated neural correlates in individuals with mild to moderate PD. METHODS: Fifty-seven participants with PD and 34 healthy participants, all ≥60 years of age, performed the serial reaction time task (SRTT) during the acquisition of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. We analyzed the SRTT as a measure of implicit motor sequence learning in two complementary ways. We analyzed the task-induced fMRI data within regions of interest (ROIs) as well as functional connectivity between ROIs. RESULTS: We found a significant group difference in SRTT performance indicating that the participants with PD had a somewhat lower level of implicit motor sequence learning than the healthy participants. Exploratory analyses suggested that impairments in implicit motor sequence learning for people with PD might be due to a lower learning rate. We did not find any significant group differences in the fMRI data. CONCLUSION: Our exploratory finding of a lower implicit motor learning rate in PD could have important implications for how people with PD should practice new motor tasks and physical exercise. Future studies need to confirm this finding with hypothesis-driven analyses.

Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure prefrontal cortex activity during dual-task walking and navigated walking: A feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: While functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) can provide insight into motor-cognitive deficits during ecologically valid gait conditions, the feasibility of using fNIRS during complex walking remains unknown. We tested the process and scientific feasibility of using an fNIRS device to measure cortical activity during complex walking tasks consisting of straight walking and navigated walking under single and dual-task (DT) conditions. METHODS: Nineteen healthy people from 18 to 64 years (mean age: 45.7 years) participated in this study which consisted of three complex walking protocols: (i) straight walking, DT walking (walking while performing an auditory Stroop task) and single-task auditory Stroop, (ii) straight and navigated walking, and (iii) navigated walking and navigated DT walking. A rest condition (standing still) was also included in each protocol. Process feasibility outcomes included evaluation of the test procedures and participant experience during and after each protocol. Scientific feasibility outcomes included signal quality measures, and the ability to measure changes in concentration of deoxygenated and oxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex. RESULTS: All participants were able to complete the three protocols with most agreeing that the equipment was comfortable (57.9%) and that the testing duration was adequate (73.7%). Most participants did not feel tired (94.7%) with some experiencing pain (42.1%) during the protocols. The signal qualities were high for each protocol. Compared to the rest condition, there was an increase in oxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex when performing dual-task walking and navigation. CONCLUSION: We showed that our experimental setup was feasible for assessing activity in the prefrontal cortex with fNIRS during complex walking. The experimental setup was deemed acceptable and practicable. Signal quality was good during complex walking conditions and findings suggest that the different tasks elicit a differential brain activity, supporting scientific feasibility.

Unwrapping the "black box" of balance training in people with multiple sclerosis - A descriptive systematic review of intervention components, progression, and intensity.

BACKGROUND: Delineating the specific components of the existing balance training interventions in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) may contribute to a framework for future design and reporting of such interventions. Thus, we aimed to systematically synthesize how balance training frequency, intensity, time, type, duration, and progression are reported in balance training interventions for PwMS. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cinahl. Search terms were MS, postural balance, walking, gait, and randomized/quasi-randomized controlled or clinical trials. Articles including ambulatory PwMS and interventions designed to challenge the balance control system were eligible. Two investigators screened, selected, and extracted data independently. Data on study characteristics such as design, population, and balance training content were extracted. Categorization of balance training based on balance control components was performed. RESULTS: We included 40 studies grouped under five balance training categories. Balance interventions were well described regarding frequency, session time, and duration, but only two interventions described training intensity, and no systematic, gradual progression approach was reported for balance training adaptation over time. However, the balance training interventions included many sensory and motor components of the balance control system. Still, little focus was on reactive motor strategies, vestibular sense, and cognitive dual-tasking. CONCLUSIONS: Existing balance training interventions in PwMS primarily consist of practicing sensory and motor strategies. Future balance training interventions are encouraged to systematically monitor individual advancements in balance training adaptations and to apply the progressive overload principle (i.e. continuous increase in balance exercise stimulus over time). Furthermore, we suggest that balance training in PwMS is performed with high intensity near an individual's balance capacity limits. Finally, individualized balance training is recommended to cover all relevant components of balance control using the proposed framework.

Muscle Strength and Power in People With Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: No studies have synthesized the literature regarding mechanical muscle function (ie, strength, power, rate of force development [RFD]) in people with Parkinson disease (PD). Here, we aimed to expand our understanding of mechanical muscle function in people with PD (PwPD) by systematically reviewing (1) the psychometric properties of isokinetic/isometric dynamometry in PD, (2) the literature comparing mechanical muscle function in PwPD with healthy controls (HC), and (3) reported associations between muscle mechanical muscle function and functional capacity and/or disease severity. METHODS: Systematic literature search in 6 databases. Included studies had to (1) enroll and report data on PwPD, (2) include assessment(s) of psychometric properties (ie, validity, reliability, responsiveness) of isokinetic/isometric dynamometry in PD, and/or (3) assess mechanical muscle function in both PwPD and HC using isokinetic/isometric dynamometry. RESULTS: A total of 40 studies were included. Aim 1 studies (n = 2) showed high reliability for isometric dynamometry (hip-abductor/dorsiflexor/trunk flexor-extensor/handgrip: intraclass correlations coefficients range = 0.92-0.98). Aim 2 studies (n = 40) showed impaired mechanical muscle function (ie, strength, power, RFD) in PwPD compared with HC (effect sizes range = 0.52-1.89). Aim 3 studies (n = 11) showed weak-to-strong associations between overall and lower extremities muscle strength and functional capacity and/or disease severity outcomes (ie, Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Sparse methodological evidence suggests high reliability when using dynamometry in PwPD. Muscle strength, power, and RFD are impaired in PwPD compared with HC. Muscle strength is associated with functional capacity and disease severity.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A403 ).

Can the 1-Leg Standing Test Be Replaced by Self-reported Balance in the First-Time Injurious Fall Screening Tool?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The First-time Injurious Fall (FIF) screening tool was created to identify fall risk in community-living older men and women, who may be targets for primary preventive interventions. The FIF tool consists of 3 self-reported questions and 1 physical test (1-leg standing balance). The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive ability of the FIF tool and a modified FIF tool (in which 1-leg standing is replaced by self-reported balance) for first-time injurious falls. METHODS: A cohort of 1194 community-living people 60 years and older from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), Sweden, was followed longitudinally for 5 years. Data on injurious falls were collected from registered data and were defined as receipt of care after a fall. The predictive ability of the FIF tool and the m-FIF tool was explored using Harrell's C statistic, stratified by sex. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The injurious fall rate per 1000 person-years was 54.9 (95% CI: 47.22-63.78) for women and 36.3 (95% CI: 28.84-45.78) for men. The predictive ability for women and men according to Harrell's C statistic was 0.70 and 0.71 for the FIF tool and the m-FIF tool. The predictive ability was 0.70 and 0.69 for 1-leg standing, and 0.65 and 0.60 for self-reported balance problems. CONCLUSIONS: The m-FIF tool presented similar predictive ability as the FIF tool regarding first-time injurious falls. This finding could extend the usefulness of the tool to other settings, such as to electronic health (eHealth). A quickly and easily administered screening tool can help physical therapists to identify people with a high risk of falling who may need to undergo a more comprehensive fall risk assessment.

Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Persons Residing in Nursing Homes.

Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important patient-related outcome for the assessment of interventions and treatments in older people. Understanding underlying mechanisms for HRQoL is crucial for improving care, rehabilitation and symptom relief. This study examined the associations between HRQoL and frailty, sarcopenia, dependence of ADL, physical function and nutritional status in older nursing home (NH) residents. Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study employing baseline data from the Older Person's Exercise and Nutrition (OPEN) study. Residents ≥75 years and able to stand up from seated position, residing in eight nursing homes in Sweden, were recruited. The EuroQoL 5-dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L, 0-1) was used to assess HRQoL. For exposure, the FRAIL and SARC-F questionnaires, Bergs Balance Scale, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) were used, including chair-stand test, walking speed and some biochemical markers. Descriptive and inferential statistics including linear regression models were applied. Results: Data from 113 residents (59% women, mean age 85 years) revealed a mean EQ-5D index of 0.76. After relevant adjustments, factors associated with low HRQoL were sarcopenia (p<0.001), cognitive function (p<0.001), dependence in ADL (p=0.002), low plasma-albumin (p=0.002) and impaired nutritional status (p=0.038). Conclusion: This study displays evidence that modifiable conditions like sarcopenia and malnutrition are related to HRQoL in older NH residents. Such findings indicate a potential for physical exercise, including muscle training, and improved nutritional routines, including protein supplementation, to enhance nursing home care. Future studies, in larger NH populations, on exercise and nutrition for effects on HRQoL are needed.

Striatal Hand Deformities in Parkinson's Disease: Hand Surgical Perspectives.

Background: The knowledge about striatal hand deformities (SHD) in Parkinson's disease (PD), has recently increased but need more attention due to their early impact on dexterity. The focus of clinical studies has been on the staging of SHD severity and neurological features. However, a hand surgical perspective has not been considered. Objectives: Our purpose was to examine SHD in patients with PD using hand surgical assessment methods and the recommended staging of SHD. Methods: In this observational study, a specialist in neurological physiotherapy examined 100 consecutive PD patients and identified 35 with suspected SHD, who were then examined by two hand surgeons. Their hands were clinically evaluated for severity of SHD, according to a previous proposed staging, focusing on metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint flexion, presence of intrinsic and extrinsic tightness, as well as other hand deformities. Results: Three kinds of deformities were identified among 35 included patients: surgical diagnoses unrelated to PD (n = 5), SHD (n = 23), and PD related hand deformities with increased extrinsic tightness (n = 10); three of these 10 patients had also contralateral SHD, thus are included in SHD group. In addition to previously described MCP joint flexion, swan neck deformity and z-thumb deformity, we found in most hands finger "clefting," abduction of the little finger and/or an increased intrinsic tightness, indicating pathology of intrinsic muscles of the hand involved in SHD. Conclusions: SHD diagnosed with a modified staging method, including features of intrinsic and extrinsic hand deformities, should be considered in PD to implement early and more accurate treatment.

Cognitive-motor interference in people with mild to moderate multiple sclerosis, in comparison with healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Reduced motor and cognitive dual-task capacity is found to be more common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), than among healthy populations. However, studies in larger samples of MS conducted using a more stringent methodology, which includes comparisons to healthy controls, are needed. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to explore the effects on motor and cognitive dual-tasking in people with mild to moderate overall MS-disability, in comparison to healthy controls. A second aim was to explore the differences in dual-task performance on a cognitive task between two motor tasks in people with mild to moderate MS and healthy controls. METHODS: This case-control study evaluated dual-task performance of the motor tasks standing with eyes closed (hereafter standing) and walking and a cognitive task assessing selective executive functions (auditory-Stroop test). Fifty-five people with MS (mild MS, n = 28; moderate MS, n = 27), and 30 healthy controls participated. Standing and walking were assessed using wireless inertial measurement unit sensors (APDM). Standing (three 30 s trials) was measured using sway area and root mean square sway, while walking (2 min) was measured using speed, stride length, and step time. Auditory-Stroop was measured using accuracy and response time. During dual-task assessments, each subject was instructed to pay equal attention to both tasks. Statistical significance was considered if p < .05. RESULTS: Instanding no significant within-group differences in the standing measures were found between single-task and dual-task performance. However, dual-task performance differed significantly between all groups (moderate MS > mild MS > healthy controls), except between mild and moderate MS in sway area. Inwalking, all groups slowed down speed and shortened stride length during dual-task condition compared to single-task condition. Moderate MS performed significantly poorer than mild MS and healthy controls in dual-task walking, but mild MS did not differ from healthy controls. In thecognitivetask only mild MS increased significantly in auditory-Stroop response time during walking. In healthy controls, the performance of auditory-Stroop was not affected by dual-tasking. Moderate MS had significantly longer response time in dual-task auditory-Stroop compared to the other groups, but no differences were observed between mild MS and healthy controls. Only mild MS had significantly longer response time during walking than during standing. CONCLUSION: This study showed that cognitive-motor interference in people with MS is present also in the early phases of the disease. This was shown during dual-tasking with slower walking and a longer response time in the cognitive task compared to healthy controls. Moderate MS performed poorer in almost every aspect of the motor and cognitive assessments in dual-task condition, compared to mild MS and healthy controls. Furthermore, during standing, people with MS performed poorer in standing measures compared to healthy controls. Additionally, healthy controls showed no cognitive interference during motor tasks. The results suggest that standardized regular assessment of dual-tasking in MS care might increase the individual's knowledge of dual-task capacity and contribute to understanding of possible related consequences. However, feasible assessment equipment and specific motor-cognitive dual-task training interventions for people with MS need to be developed.

Unraveling Parkinson's disease heterogeneity using subtypes based on multimodal data.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a clinically and neuroanatomically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease characterized by different subtypes. To this date, no studies have used multimodal data that combines clinical, motor, cognitive and neuroimaging assessments to identify these subtypes, which may provide complementary, clinically relevant information. To address this limitation, we subtyped participants with mild-moderate PD based on a rich, multimodal dataset of clinical, cognitive, motor, and neuroimaging variables. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 95 PD participants from our randomized EXPANd (EXercise in PArkinson's disease and Neuroplasticity) controlled trial were included. Participants were subtyped using clinical, motor, and cognitive assessments as well as structural and resting-state MRI data. Subtyping was done by random forest clustering. We extracted information about the subtypes by inspecting their neuroimaging profiles and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Our multimodal subtyping analysis yielded three PD subtypes: a motor-cognitive subtype characterized by widespread alterations in brain structure and function as well as impairment in motor and cognitive abilities; a cognitive dominant subtype mainly impaired in cognitive function that showed frontoparietal structural and functional changes; and a motor dominant subtype impaired in motor variables without any brain alterations. Motor variables were most important for the subtyping, followed by gray matter volume in the right medial postcentral gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: Three distinct PD subtypes were identified in our multimodal dataset. The most important features to subtype PD participants were motor variables in addition to structural MRI in the sensorimotor region. These findings have the potential to improve our understanding of PD heterogeneity, which in turn can lead to personalized interventions and rehabilitation.

The impact of aerobic and resistance training intensity on markers of neuroplasticity in health and disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of low- vs. high-intensity aerobic and resistance training on motor and cognitive function, brain activation, brain structure, and neurochemical markers of neuroplasticity and the association thereof in healthy young and older adults and in patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. DESIGN: Systematic review and robust variance estimation meta-analysis with meta-regression. DATA SOURCES: Systematic search of MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases. RESULTS: Fifty studies with 60 intervention arms and 2283 in-analyses participants were included. Due to the low number of studies, the three patient groups were combined and analyzed as a single group. Overall, low- (g=0.19, p = 0.024) and high-intensity exercise (g=0.40, p = 0.001) improved neuroplasticity. Exercise intensity scaled with neuroplasticity only in healthy young adults but not in healthy older adults or patient groups. Exercise-induced improvements in neuroplasticity were associated with changes in motor but not cognitive outcomes. CONCLUSION: Exercise intensity is an important variable to dose and individualize the exercise stimulus for healthy young individuals but not necessarily for healthy older adults and neurological patients. This conclusion warrants caution because studies are needed that directly compare the effects of low- vs. high-intensity exercise on neuroplasticity to determine if such changes are mechanistically and incrementally linked to improved cognition and motor function.