Jackson H, Anzures-Cabrera J, Simuni T, Postuma RB, Marek K, Pagano G. Identifying prodromal symptoms at high specificity for Parkinson's disease.
Front Aging Neurosci 2023;
15:1232387. [PMID:
37810617 PMCID:
PMC10556459 DOI:
10.3389/fnagi.2023.1232387]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction
To test drugs with the potential to prevent the onset of Parkinson's disease (PD), it is key to identify individuals in the general population at high risk of developing PD. This is often difficult because most of the clinical markers are non-specific, common in PD but also common in older adults (e.g., sleep problems).
Objective
We aimed to identify the clinical markers at high specificity for developing PD by comparing individuals with PD or prodromal PD to healthy controls.
Methods
We investigated motor and non-motor symptoms (Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 1 and 2 items) in 64 prodromal PD and 422 PD individuals calculating the odds ratios, adjusting for age and gender, for PD and prodromal PD versus 195 healthy controls. Symptoms at high specificity were defined as having an adjusted odds ratio ≥ 6.
Results
Constipation had an adjusted odds ratio, 6.14 [95% CI: 2.94-12.80] showing high specificity for prodromal PD, and speech difficulties had an adjusted odds ratio, 9.61 [95% CI: 7.88-48.81] showing high specificity for PD. The proportion of participants showing these specific markers was moderate (e.g., prevalence of constipation was 43.75% in prodromal PD, and speech difficulties was 33.89% in PD), suggesting these symptoms may make robust predictors of prodromal PD and PD, respectively.
Discussion
Clinical markers at high specificity for developing PD could be used as tools in the screening of general populations to identify individuals at higher risk of developing PD.
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