Freezing of Gait Is Associated with Daily Activity Limitations among Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between freezing of gait and daily activities among individuals with mild cognitive impairment due to Parkinson’s disease by determining differences in caregiver-reported daily activity performance between individuals with and without freezing of gait. Cross-sectional baseline data from a longitudinal cohort study were used with 24 participants. Caregivers completed the Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ). Using a Mann-Whitney U test, findings indicated that participants with freezing of gait reported overall higher functional impairment levels on the ADLQ (p=.001), including the household, travel, self-care, employment and recreation, and communication subscores, indicating more perceived impairment. Findings show freezing of gait is associated with daily activity limitations in the home and the community among individuals with mild cognitive impairment due to Parkinson’s disease. Clinicians should consider assessing freezing of gait, as early detection can inform the selection of interventions and strategies to minimize its impact on the performance of daily activities.