Abstract
BackgroundFatigue is common in Parkinson’s Disease, but few effective treatments are available for it. Exploring triggers and alleviating factors, including effects of exercise, could inform development of management strategies for Parkinson’s Disease fatigue.ObjectivesTo examine triggers and alleviating factors for fatigue reported by individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, including perceived effect of exercise.MethodsA sample of individuals with self-reported Parkinson’s Disease participating in the study Fox Insight were administered an online survey. The survey included the Parkinson's Fatigue Scale, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and multiple-choice questions about triggers and alleviating factors for fatigue.ResultsAmong the sample of 1,029 individuals with Parkinson’s disease, mean (standard deviation (SD)) age was 67.4 (9.3) years, 44.0% were female. Parkinson’s Fatigue Scale score ranged from 16–80, mean (SD) 48.8 (16.2). Poor sleep (62.1%) and physical exertion (45.1%) were frequently reported triggers for fatigue. Coping strategies including sitting quietly (58.1%), laying down with or without napping, and exercise (20%). Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly scores were higher in those who reported that exercise alleviated their fatigue (49.7%) compared to those who reported it worsened their fatigue (18.9%) (mean (SD) score 158.5 (88.8) vs 119.8 (66.6) respectively; p<0.001).ConclusionsSeveral behavioral and environmental triggers and alleviating strategies for fatigue are reported by individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Many feel that exercise alleviates fatigue, though the relationship between exercise and fatigue in Parkinson’s Disease appears complex. This exploratory study may inform future development of treatments or coping strategies for Parkinson’s disease fatigue.
Highlights
Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly scores were higher in those who reported that exercise alleviated their fatigue (49.7%) compared to those who reported it worsened their fatigue (18.9%) (mean (SD) score 158.5 (88.8) vs 119.8 (66.6) respectively; p
Many feel that exercise alleviates fatigue, though the relationship between exercise and fatigue in Parkinson’s Disease appears complex
Fatigue in Parkinson’s disease (PD) occurs in over half of patients and has significant negative impact on both quality of life and the ability of patients to carry out daily activities [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Summary
Fatigue in Parkinson’s disease (PD) occurs in over half of patients and has significant negative impact on both quality of life and the ability of patients to carry out daily activities [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Physical activity, which may be neuroprotective and is a core component of PD management [20,21,22,23], appears to have mixed effects on fatigue [24,25,26,27], but data are limited. To address this gap in knowledge, and toward informing future development of therapeutics, we examined patient-reported triggers and alleviating factors for fatigue in PD. Exploring triggers and alleviating factors, including effects of exercise, could inform development of management strategies for Parkinson’s Disease fatigue.
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