Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Mind-Body Exercise in Parkinson’s Disease: A Mixed-Treatment Comparison Analysis

Background/Objectives: Aerobic exercise and mind-body exercise, are vital for improving motor and non-motor functional performance of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, evidence-based recommendations on which type of exercise is most suitable for each individual are still lacking. Therefore, we conduct a network meta-analysis to assess the relative efficacy of aerobic and mind-body exercise on motor function and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease and to determine which of these therapies are the most suitable.Design: A network meta-analysis and dose-response analysis.Setting and Participants: Medline, Embase (all via Ovid), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were comprehensively searched for related trials through April 2021.Measurements: Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The effect sizes of continuous outcomes were calculated using mean differences (MDs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs). A network meta-analysis with a frequentist approach was conducted to estimate the efficacy and probability rankings of the therapies. The dose-response relationship was determined based on metaregression and SUCRA.Results: Fifty-two trials with 1971 patients evaluating six different therapies were identified. For the UPDRS-motor score and TUG score, yoga all ranked highest (SUCRA = 92.8%, 92.6%, respectively). The SUCRA indicated that walking may best improve the BBS score (SUCRA = 90.2%). Depression, cognitive and activities of daily living scores were significantly improved by yoga (SUCRA: 86.3, 95.1, and 79.5%, respectively). In the dose-response analysis, 60-min sessions, two times a week might be the most suitable dose of yoga for reducing the UPDRS-motor score of PD patients.Conclusion: Yoga and walking are important options for increasing functional mobility and balance function, and yoga might be particularly effective for decreasing depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment and improving activities of daily living in PD. The potential optimal dose of yoga for enhancing motor ability in PD patients is 60-min sessions, two times a week.Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021224823.

Dissonance in Music Impairs Spatial Gait Parameters in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Background: It is known that music influences gait parameters in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, it remains unclear whether this effect is merely due to temporal aspects of music (rhythm and tempo) or other musical parameters. Objective: To examine the influence of pleasant and unpleasant music on spatiotemporal gait parameters in PD, while controlling for rhythmic aspects of the musical signal. Methods: We measured spatiotemporal gait parameters of 18 patients suffering from mild PD (50%men, mean±SD age of 64±6 years; mean disease duration of 6±5 years; mean Unified PD Rating scale [UPDRS] motor score of 15±7) who listened to eight different pieces of music. Music pieces varied in harmonic consonance/dissonance to create the experience of pleasant/unpleasant feelings. To measure gait parameters, we used an established analysis of spatiotemporal gait, which consists of a walkway containing pressure-receptive sensors (GAITRite®). Repeated measures analyses of variance were used to evaluate effects of auditory stimuli. In addition, linear regression was used to evaluate effects of valence on gait. Results: Sensory dissonance modulated spatiotemporal and spatial gait parameters, namely velocity and stride length, while temporal gait parameters (cadence, swing duration) were not affected. In contrast, valence in music as perceived by patients was not associated with gait parameters. Motor and musical abilities did not relevantly influence the modulation of gait by auditory stimuli. Conclusion: Our observations suggest that dissonant music negatively affects particularly spatial gait parameters in PD by yet unknown mechanisms, but putatively through increased cognitive interference reducing attention in auditory cueing.

Subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus internus stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review

Objective Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) has two anatomical targets: the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and the globus pallidus internus (GPI). The clinical effectiveness of these two stimulation targets was compared in the present study. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluated the postoperative changes in the United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) on- and off-phase, on-stimulation motor scores; activities of daily living score (ADLS); and levodopa equivalent dose (LED) after STN and GPI stimulation. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials of PD treated by STN and GPI stimulation were considered for inclusion. Results Eight published reports of eligible studies involving 599 patients met the inclusion criteria. No significant differences were observed between the STN and GPI groups in the on-medication, on-stimulation UPDRS motor score [mean difference, 2.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.96–5.27] or ADLS (mean difference, 3.40; 95% CI, 0.95–7.76). Significant differences in favor of STN stimulation were noted in the off-medication, on-stimulation UPDRS motor score (mean difference, 1.67; 95% CI, 0.98–2.37) and LED (mean difference, 130.24; 95% CI, 28.82–231.65). Conclusion The STN may be the preferred target for DBS in consideration of medication reduction, economic efficiency, and motor function improvement in the off phase. However, treatment decisions should be made according to the individual patient’s symptoms and expectations.

Frequency of REM sleep behavior disorders in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Background/Aim. Sleep is prompted by natural cycles of activity in the brain and consists of two basic states: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by violent motor and vocal behavior during REM sleep which represents dream enactment. The normal loss of muscle tone, with the exception of respiratory, sphincter, extra ocular and middle ear muscles, is absent in patients with RBD. The origin of RBD is frequently unknown, but can be associated with degenerative neurological disorders, such as Parkinson?s disease (PD). PD patients do not necessarily express features of RBD, which is identified in approximately third to a half of them. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of RBD in a cohort of PD patients, as well as to identify risk-factors for its development. Methods. In the period from December 2010 to September 2011 we recruited 97 consecutive PD outpatients, treated in the Institute of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade. After establishing the diagnosis, all the patients filled out a specially constructed questionnaire with the following items: actual age, sex, age at disease onset, disease duration, form of the disease, type of treatment, duration of treatment, the presence of constipation, lessening of smell sense, and family history of PD. At entring the study, patients disability was scored using the Unified Parkinson?s Disease Rating Scale (motor part - UPDRS). Cognitive abilities were assessed by the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scale, and depression symptoms by the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). The patients with PD were dichotomized to those with and without RBD using the RBD Questionnaire - Hong Kong (RBDQ-HK) in the manner of an interview. Forms of PD, mode of treatment, sex, constipation and family history were investigated using the Fishers ?2 test. Symptoms and treatment duration, the presence of smell disturbances, MMSE score, UPDRS motor score and HDRS score were analyzed by implementation of the Z-test. Actual age and age at disease onset were evaluated by the unpaired t-test. Results. The RBD-positive group contained 15 (15.5%) patients, while in the rest of them (82/97), RBD was not identified (non- RBD group). There was no difference between the two groups considering gender distribution (p = 0.847), age (p = 0.577), age at disease onset (p = 0.141), duration of PD (p = 0.069), family history (p = 0.591), type of initial symptoms (p = 0.899), constipation (p = 0.353), olfaction (p = 0.32) and MMSE scores (p = 0.217). The duration of treatment in the RBD group was longer than in the non-RBD group (9.4 ? 5.3 and 6.3 ? 3.9 years, respectively; p = 0.029), and the UPDRS motor score in the RBD group was higher (19.1 ? 9.4 and 12.7 ? 8.2, respectively; p = 0.013). Also, HDRS scores were higher in patients expressing RBD (10.1 ? 6.0 and 6.4 ? 4.5, respectively; p = 0.019). Conclusion. We found that 15.5% of the consecutive PD patients had RBD, and that the patients with RBD differed from the non-RBD ones regarding duration of treatment, disease and depressive symptoms severity.

Assessment of the Effects of Unilateral Electrode Dysfunction in Patients With Parkinson Disease Undergoing Bilateral Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation

BACKGROUND: Bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is the gold standard surgical treatment for medically intractable Parkinson disease, and unilateral electrodes are reported to have beneficial effects. However, assessment of patients after electrode failure needs to be established. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of the remaining unilateral electrode in Parkinson disease after bilateral STN-DBS. METHODS: Between May 2000 and March 2009, 8 patients had unilateral STN-DBS after bilateral STN-DBS. We assessed clinical outcome by comparing the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score, activities of daily living, levodopa-equivalent daily dosages, and quality of life according to the Short-Form 36 Health Survey between patients with unilateral and bilateral electrodes. RESULTS: Although ipsilateral and axial UPDRS motor scores were compromised, UPDRS motor scores contralateral to the side of the implant remained unaltered after removal of 1 electrode. Although physical aspects of quality of life declined significantly with a unilateral electrode, pain and social functioning were not significantly affected. No significant changes in activities of daily living, Hoehn and Yahr stage, or levodopa-equivalent daily dosage were observed after removal of 1 electrode. CONCLUSION: The UPDRS motor score with unilateral STN-DBS was compromised relative to bilateral STN-DBS for ipsilateral motor and axial symptoms. When 1 electrode is compromised, revision of that electrode will eventually be required, but not immediately in all patients. If a patient tolerates loss of 1 electrode according to motor score while maintaining activities of daily living and quality of life, it is possible to wait and observe the situation instead of immediately revising the electrode.

Localization of electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus on magnetic resonance imaging

Object The authors describe a new method of localizing electrodes on magnetic resonance (MR) images and focus on the positions of both the most efficient contact and the electrode related to the MR imaging target. Methods Thirty-one patients who had undergone bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) were included in this study. Target coordinates were calculated in the anterior commissure–posterior commissure referential. A study of the correlation between the artifact and the related contact allowed one to deduce the contact position from the identification of the distal artifact on MR imaging. The best stimulation point corresponded with the contact resulting in the best Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score improvement. It was compared (Student t-test) with the dorsal margin of the STN (DM STN), which was determined electrophysiologically. The distance between the target and the electrode was calculated individually in each axis. The best stimulation point was located at anteroposterior −2.34 ± 1.63 mm, lateral 12.04 ± 1.62 mm, and vertical −2.57 ± 1.68 mm. This point was not significantly different from the DM STN (p < 0.05). The postoperative UPDRS motor score was 28.07 ± 12.16, as opposed to the preoperative score of 46.27 ± 13.89. The distance between the expected and actual target in the x- and y-axes was 1.34 ± 1.02 and 1.03 ± 0.76 mm, respectively. In the z-axis, 39.7% of the distal contacts were located proximal to the target. Conclusions This approach proposed for the localization of the electrodes on MR imaging shows that DBS is most effective in the dorsal and lateral part of the STN and indicates that the DBS electrode can be located more proximally than originally expected because of the caudal brain shift that may occur during the implantation procedure.