Non-Motor Symptoms Scale Score Research Articles

Non-motor symptoms profile and burden in drug naïve versus long-term Parkinson's disease patients.

Recent studies have demonstrated that, contrary to common perception non-motor symptoms (NMS) occur and may dominate early and untreated stage of Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this ongoing study was to describe the overall NMS profile and burden in drug naïve PD patients (DNPD) compared to a group of long-term PD patients (LTPD, disease duration ≥15 years). Cross sectional UK data from a multicenter (16 sites) collaboration were obtained and specifically NMS dataset from validated scales were analysed in DNPD and LTPD patients. The NMS scale (NMSS) was used as the primary outcome variable. Out of a current database of 468 PD patients, 57 were DNPD (58% males, mean age 64.8 years, median Hoehn and Yahr stage 1) and 25 were LTPD (44%, mean age 67.6 years, median Hoehn and Yahr stage 3). DNPD patients had a significantly lower (p = 0.001) NMSS score (mean 45.5, range 1-150) compared to the LTPD patients (mean 74.0, range 6-155), but 26.3% had severe and 19.3% had very severe burden of NMSS using NMSS cutoff scores. In comparison, 20.0% of the LTPD patients had severe and 60.0% very severe burden of NMS (p = 0.003). NMS are common in DNPD patients and over 45% may have severe to very severe burden of NMS, which is a key determinant of quality of life. In LTPD patients not only the burden of "very severe" NMS is significantly higher, but there are also differences in the profile of expression of NMS.

Influence of Deep Breathing on Heart Rate Variability in Parkinson's Disease: Co-relation with Severity of Disease and Non-Motor Symptom Scale Score.

Dysautonomia and non-motor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) are frequent, disabling and reduce quality of life of patient. There is a paucity of studies on autonomic dysfunction in PD in Indian population. The study aimed to evaluate autonomic dysfunction in PD patients and co-relate the findings with severity of PD and Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) score. We evaluated autonomic function in 30 diagnosed patients of PD (age 55-70 years) and 30 healthy age-matched controls by 3 min deep breathing test (DBT). NMSS was used to identify non-motor symptoms and Hoehn and Yahr (HY) Scale to grade severity of PD. The DBT findings were co-related with severity of PD (HY staging) and NMSS score. DBT was found to be abnormal in 40% while it was on borderline in 33.3% of PD patients. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) between patients and control group for the DBT. NMS were reported across all the stages of PD but with variable frequency and severity for individual symptom. A negative co-relation was found between results of deep breathing test and clinical severity of disease and NMSS score. Abnormalities of autonomic function and NMS were integral and present across all the stages of PD patients. Early recognition and treatment of these may decrease morbidity and improve quality of life of PD patients.

Association between fatigue and other motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients

Although fatigue is a common non-motor symptom in patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD), its association with motor and other non-motor symptoms is still largely unclear. We assessed fatigue in PD patients studying the possible association with motor and non-motor symptoms. Eighty-one PD patients were included in the study. The PD Fatigue Scale (PFS) and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) scale were used to measure fatigue. Non-motor symptoms were assessed with the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS). Motor impairment was assessed using the modified Hoehn and Yahr (HY) staging and the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) part-III and IV. Bivariate tests comparing all independent variables between patients with our without fatigue were used. Significant predictors of presence and severity of fatigue were determined with different models of logistic regression analyses. Fatigue severity was significantly higher in female patients. Bivariate test showed significant higher NMSS score in fatigued patients according to PFS (p<0.00001) and FFS (p<0.001), while HY was higher only in fatigued patients according to FSS (p<0.022). Significant correlations between severity of fatigue and HY stage (p<0.002) and UPDRS-III score (p<0.001) were found, while, among specific non-motor symptoms, anhedonia presented with the most significant correlation (p<0.003). Binary logistic regression confirmed NMSS as the main variable predicting presence of fatigue, while HY was significant as predicting variable only in the FSS model. Strongest non-motor symptoms predictors of severity were those included in Domain 3 (mood/anxiety) and Domain 2 (sleep disorders) of the NMSS. A significant increase in severity of fatigue related to the burden of non-motor symptoms (mainly affective and sleep disorders) was observed. Our findings indicate a moderate discrepancy in the ratings of the two fatigue scales, with PFS principally directed towards the burden of non-motor symptoms. Finally, the accurate individuation of the factors underlying fatigue, assessed with the systematic administration of holistic evaluation scales such as the NMSS, might improve current strategies used in the treatment of this disabling condition.

Safety and efficacy of recombinant human erythropoietin treatment of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease

BackgroundNumerous animal studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that erythropoietin (EPO) has therapeutic effects in ischemic and degenerative diseases. However, few clinical trials have investigated the effect of EPO in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. This study was an exploratory pilot study to investigate the effects of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) on motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS) in PD patients. MethodsA total of 26 PD patients at the Hanyang University Hospital were enrolled in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to rhEPO and placebo groups. The rhEPO group was infused intravenously (40,000IU each) twice a week for 5weeks. Clinical improvement was estimated using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale—III (UPDRS-III), the NMS Scale (NMSS) and the 39-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). [18F] N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carbon ethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane (FP-CIT) photon emission tomography (PET) scanning was performed on each participant at baseline and again after 12months. ResultsThe rhEPO administration significantly improved the NMSS and PDQ-39 scores at 12months. The UPDRS-III, which reflects motor function, did not change significantly after the rhEPO treatment. With the NMSS, the domains of cardiovascular autonomic function, sleep/fatigue, mood/cognition and attention/memory showed significant changes. None of the participants experienced any serious adverse effects. DiscussionWe found that rhEPO had beneficial effects on NMS but not on motor function. Dopaminergic refractory NMS, such as cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and cognition, showed improvement after the administration of rhEPO. Our results suggest that rhEPO might be a good candidate for the treatment of NMS in PD patients.

The impact of non-motor symptoms on the Health-Related Quality of Life of Parkinson's disease patients from Southwest China

BackgroundThe impact of non-motor symptoms (NMS) on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Chinese population are largely unknown. ObjectivesTo study the impact of NMS on the HRQoL in Chinese PD patients. MethodsA total of 693 PD patients from Southwest China were included in the study. NMS of patients were evaluated by non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS) and Parkinson's disease questionnaire-39 item version (PDQ-39) was used to evaluate the HRQoL of PD. ResultsThe mean total score of NMSS was 37.2 ± 33.0 and the most prevalent NMS domain was sleep/fatigue (79.8%). There was a significant strong positive correlation between total NMSS score (rs = 0.71, P < 0.01), sleep/fatigue domain (rs = 0.60, P < 0.01) and PDQ-39 SI. Mood/apathy (rs = 0.55, P < 0.01), attention/memory (rs = 0.42, P < 0.01), gastrointestinal (rs = 0.44, P < 0.01) and Miscellany domains (rs = 0.46, P < 0.01) moderately correlated with PDQ-39 SI. A strong correlation was found between PDQ-39 SI (rs = 0.71, P < 0.01), emotional well-being (rs = 0.62, P < 0.01), cognitions (rs = 0.62, P < 0.01), and the total score of NMSS. Moderate correlation was found between mobility (rs = 0.45, P < 0.01), activities of daily living (rs = 0.43, P < 0.01), stigma (rs = 0.42, P < 0.01), communication (rs = 0.47, P < 0.01), bodily discomfort (rs = 0.46, P < 0.01) and the total score of NMSS. Female, H–Y stage, UPDRS-III and NMSS total score were the potential determinants of worse HRQoL of PD patients. ConclusionsNMS have close association with various aspects of the HRQoL. Severe NMS may be related to dramatic decline of the HRQoL of PD patients.

Gender and onset age-related features of non-motor symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease – A study from Southwest China

BackgroundNon-motor symptom (NMS) differences between male Parkinson's disease (PD) and female PD, and between early-onset PD (EOPD) and late-onset PD (LOPD) in Chinese populations remain largely unknown. MethodsA total of 522 PD patients from Southwest China were included. Patients were assessed using the Non-Motor Symptom Scale (NMSS) and Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS). ResultsMore NMS and significantly higher NMSS score were found in LOPD patients than in EOPD patients (9.3 ± 5.9 vs. 7.7 ± 5.6, P = 0.005; 37.4 ± 32.2 vs. 30.5 ± 28.9, P = 0.018), while no such differences were found between male and female patients. The NMS of gastrointestinal and urinary domains were more common in LOPD patients than in EOPD patients, whereas sexual dysfunction was more common in EOPD than in LOPD. The sleep/fatigue domain, the mood/apathy domain and “pain” symptoms were more prevalent and severe in female patients than in male patients while urinary symptoms were more common and severe in male patients. Significant positive correlations were observed between disease duration, Hoehn & Yahr stage, UPDRS Ⅲ, and NMSS score in the total sample, subgroups of both male and female patients as well as both EOPD and LOPD patients. ConclusionsNMS are common in the Chinese PD population. LOPD patients are likely to present with more and severe NMS than EOPD patients. Males are subjected to urinary symptoms and females are subjected to mood/apathy, sleep and pain symptoms.

Disease duration-related differences in non-motor symptoms: A study of 616 Chinese Parkinson's disease patients

The differences in non-motor symptoms (NMS) along with the duration of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Chinese populations remain largely unknown. A total of 616 PD patients consisting of 189 patients with disease duration of less than 2years, 239 patients with duration between 2 and 5years, 122 patients with duration between 5 and 10years, and 66 patients with duration more than 10years from Southwest China were studied. Each patient was assessed using the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS). The mean affected number of NMS was 8.8±5.8, and the mean total NMSS score was 36.3±33.2. The mean affected number of NMS and the mean total NMSS score increased with the disease progression. The following symptoms became more common and severe with the disease duration: falls due to fainting, fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, restless legs, perceptual problem/hallucination domain (i.e., “hallucinations,” “delusions,” and “double vision”), gastrointestinal domain (i.e., “dribbling saliva,” “swallowing,” and “constipation”), urinary domain (i.e., “urgency,” “frequency,” and “nocturia”), and miscellaneous domain (i.e., “excessive sweating”). However, some symptoms such as mood/apathy pleasure, sexual dysfunction, and others remained stable. NMS are prevalent in all disease duration of the Chinese PD patients. Although the mean affected number of NMS and NMMS score increased with the disease duration, NMS progression is symptom specific.

A Proposal for a Comprehensive Grading of Parkinson's Disease Severity Combining Motor and Non-Motor Assessments: Meeting an Unmet Need

BackgroundNon-motor symptoms are present in Parkinson's disease (PD) and a key determinant of quality of life. The Non-motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) is a validated scale that allows quantifying frequency and severity (burden) of NMS. We report a proposal for using NMSS scores to determine levels of NMS burden (NMSB) and to complete PD patient classification.MethodsThis was an observational, cross-sectional international study of 935 consecutive patients. Using a distribution of NMSS scores by quartiles, a classification based on levels from 0 (no NMSB at all) to 4 (very severe NMSB) was obtained and its relation with Hoehn and Yahr (HY) staging, motor and health-related quality of life scales was analyzed. Concordance between NMSB levels and grouping based on clinician's global impression of severity, using categorical regression, was determined. Disability and HRQoL predictors were identified by multiple regression models.ResultsThe distribution of motor and QoL scales scores by HY and NMSB levels was significantly discriminative. The difference in the classification of cases for both methods, HY and NMSB, was significant (gamma = 0.45; ASE = 0.032). Concordance between NMSB and global severity-based levels from categorical regression was 91.8%, (kappaw = 0.97). NMS score was predictor of disability and QoL.ConclusionsCurrent clinical practice does not address a need for inclusion of non-motor scores in routine assessment of PD in spite of the overwhelming influence of NMS on disability and quality of life. Our data overcome the problems of “pure motor assessment” and we propose a combined approach with addition of NMSB levels to standard motor assessments.

The interrelationship between non-motor symptoms in Atypical Parkinsonism

BackgroundAtypical Parkinsonism is less common and has more severe symptoms than Parkinson's disease (PD). Little is known about the non-motor symptom (NMS) characteristics of multiple systemic atrophy (MSA) or progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). We report the interrelationship of NMS in MSA, PSP, and PD. MethodsWe studied 117 cases of PD and 57 of Atypical Parkinsonism. Out of the 57 patients, 31 had multiple systemic atrophy parkinsonian subtype (MSA-P), 14 had multiple systemic atrophy cerebellar dysfunction subtype (MSA-C), and 12 had PSP. We assessed the condition of the patients using the United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS-III), the modified Hoehn & Yahr scale (H&Y), the non-motor symptom scale (NMSS), and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). ResultsIn Atypical Parkinsonism, the NMSS scores significantly correlated with PDQ-39 scores, but not with UPDRS-III. In the MSA-P group, the mood/cognitive domain significantly correlated with both the urinary and sleep/fatigue domains. In the MSA-C group, the sleep/fatigue domain correlated with the mood/cognition and cardiovascular domains. Finally, in the PSP and PD groups, the attention/memory domain significantly correlated with the sleep/fatigue and mood/cognition domains. DiscussionThese results suggest that, with respect to cognitive function, dysautonomia and sleep/fatigue are detrimental factors in MSA and PSP, respectively.

Nonmotor Symptoms in Drug-Induced Parkinsonism and Drug-Naïve Parkinson Disease

The clinical manifestations of drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) and Parkinson disease (PD) are nearly indistinguishable, making it difficult to differentiate DIP from PD, especially in the early stages. We compared non-motor symptoms between patients with DIP and those with drug-naïve PD in the early stages using the Non Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS). We prospectively enrolled 28 patients with DIP, 35 patients with drug-naïve PD, and 32 controls with no history of neurological diseases or related medical problems. We investigated demographic characteristics, medical and drug history, parkinsonian motor symptoms, and non-motor symptoms. We used the NMSS to evaluate non-motor symptoms in all patients. The total NMSS scores were higher in patients with PD than those with DIP, as were the scores for certain domains, including the cardiovascular, sleep/fatigue, urinary, sexual, and miscellaneous domains. When controlling for age and gender, the correlation analysis revealed that scores for urinary symptoms (urgency, frequency and nocturia), sleep disturbances (daytime sleep, restless legs), concentration, taste or smell were significantly associated with PD. Our data suggest that non-motor symptoms, particularly urinary symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness, restless leg syndrome, attention deficit and hyposmia may be helpful to differentiate between DIP and PD in the early stages.

Nonmotor symptoms more closely related to Parkinson's disease: Comparison with normal elderly

Nonmotor symptoms (NMSs) commonly occur in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study sought to explore the domains of NMSs that are more closely related to PD using nonmotor symptoms scale (NMSS), through a quantitative comparison of NMSs' prevalence and NMSS scores of PD patients with normal controls, and clinical implications. We performed a prospective case–control study on PD patients (n=131) and age- and gender-matched normal controls (n=129). We compared NMSs' prevalence and NMSS scores of the PD patients with those of normal controls, and obtained the ratio to identify the domains that were more closely related to PD than normal aging using the NMSS. NMSs are very common among normal elderly as well as PD patients. The domains with the highest ratio of NMSs' prevalence and NMSS scores between the patient and control groups were the miscellaneous, perceptual problems/hallucinations, and sexual function. These three domains were found to be most closely related to PD. NMSs with higher prevalence in PD patients do not always relate more to PD. As NMSs in PD can also commonly occur among the normal elderly, the NMS prevalence should be interpreted with extreme caution. To properly manage the NMSs in PD, it should be kept in mind that avoiding the overestimation of NMSs as part of PD is as important as their early recognition in PD.

Intrajejunal Levodopa Versus Conventional Therapy in Parkinson Disease

Seventeen patients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD) were treated with intrajejunal L-dopa infusion (IJL) and compared with a matched group of 9 patients (termed comparator [C]) not given IJL because of funding restriction by primary care trusts (PCTs) in the UK, although considered to be clinically eligible for IJL. Assessments were baseline and follow-up (6 months) with Hoehn and Yahr staging, unified PD rating scale (UPDRS-III and UPDRS-IV), Parkinson disease questionnaire (PDQ-8, quality of life [QoL]) and nonmotor symptom scale (NMSS).Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. The IJL-treated group showed highly significant improvements in UPDRS-III (P = 0.005), UPDRS-IV (P = 0.0004), total NMSS score (P = 0.004), and QoL (P = 0.01), whereas the C group showed no change in these parameters. A large effect size of IJL was seen in treated patients for UPDRS-III (1.13), UPDRS-IV (1.52), NMSS score (0.82), and QoL (1.12), whereas continuing conventional treatment registered no effect in C.This study confirms the robust effect of IJL on motor and, in particular, nonmotor symptoms and QoL in advanced PD as described in open-label studies but additionally points to the need for such treatment in those denied this therapy because of centrally dictated funding policies leading to inequalities in health care.

Gender differences in motor and non-motor symptoms among Sardinian patients with Parkinson's disease

BackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) occurs more frequently in men than in women and a higher risk for PD development in males compared with females has been hypothesized, suggesting gender may be a significant factor in the development and progression of parkinsonism. To date, gender differences in non-motor symptoms are under-reported. ObjectiveTo assess gender differences in motor and non-motor symptoms among Sardinian PD patients. MethodsOne hundred fifty-six (91 male and 65 female) consecutive Sardinian PD outpatients were included in this analysis. Modified Hoehn and Yahr scale and UPDRS were used to assess motor symptoms, while non-motor disturbances were evaluated with the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS). Presence of depression, anxiety and other iatrogenic behavioral disorders was also investigated. In order to determine how gender differences could be specific to PD, 132 age-matched normal controls were assessed with the NMSS. ResultsWomen were more likely than men to present with tremor as initial symptom (p<.025) and worse UPDRS instability score (p<.02). NMSS score in females was significantly higher than that in males (p<.018).A significantly higher severity in cardiovascular (p<0.002), sleep/fatigue (p<.018) and mood/apathy (p<.001) domains was observed in female PD patients, while the sexual dysfunction domain was reported with a significantly higher score in male patients (p<.017). Fatigue (p<.03), lack of motivation (p<.015) and sadness (p<.009) were observed significantly more frequent in females, while altered interest in sex was noted as more common in males (p<.001). Frequency of depression (p<.011) and anxiety (p<.001) was significantly higher in females, while male patients had increased frequency of compulsive sexual behaviors (p<.05).There was a significantly higher frequency of non-motor symptoms in eight domains in both male and female PD patients compared with controls (p<.001, for all comparisons, with the exception of urinary disturbances in females: p<.004). Only sexual dysfunctions were not significantly higher in male and female PD patients compared with controls. DiscussionThe present study highlights the role of gender differences associated with the occurrence of motor and non-motor disorders and our findings indicate that spectrum and severity of non-motor symptoms may present with different gender distribution in PD patients, suggesting a possible sex-related effect.

The impact of non‐motor symptoms on health‐related quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease

Non-motor symptoms are detrimental to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Parkinson's disease patients. In this study, the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) was used to assess the impact of the non-motor symptoms on HRQoL of Parkinson's disease patients. In a multicenter, international, cross sectional study on 411 Parkinson's disease patients, the NMSS was applied along with clinical (Hoehn and Yahr staging and SCOPA-Motor) and HRQoL measures (PDQ-39, and EQ-5D). Prevalence of non-motor symptoms was determined also through the NMSS. The association of NMSS and SCOPA-Motor with HRQoL measures and the differences in HRQoL scores between patients with and without non-motor symptoms in each NMSS domain were estimated by non-parametric statistics. Predictors of HRQoL were sought through multiple linear regression analyses. Nocturia (68.4% of the sample), fatigue (65.9%), and dribbling saliva (56.7%), were the most frequent complaints. Total NMSS score: (1) showed a higher correlation coefficient (r(S) = 0.70) with the PDQ-39 Summary Index (SI) than SCOPA-Motor (r(S) = 0.58); (2) showed high-moderate correlation (r(S) = 0.60 - 0.38) with all PDQ-39 domains; and (3) was the best predictor of HRQoL as measured by the PDQ-39 SI. For each NMSS domain, patients with symptoms had significantly worse HRQoL scores than patients without symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first study to determine in a holistic manner the impact of the non-motor symptoms on HRQoL of Parkinson's disease patients. The results show that non-motor symptoms have, as a whole, a greater impact on HRQoL than motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms progression contributes importantly to HRQoL decline in patients with Parkinson's disease.

International study on the psychometric attributes of the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale in Parkinson disease

Nonmotor symptoms (NMS) have a great impact on patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) is an instrument specifically designed for the comprehensive assessment of NMS in patients with PD. NMSS psychometric properties have been tested in this study. Data were collected in 12 centers across 10 countries in America, Asia, and Europe. In addition to the NMSS, the following measures were applied: Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease (SCOPA)-Motor, SCOPA-Psychiatric Complications (SCOPA-PC), SCOPA-Cognition, Hoehn and Yahr Staging (HY), Clinical Impression of Severity Index for Parkinson's Disease (CISI-PD), SCOPA-Autonomic, Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 items (PDQ-39), and EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D). NMSS acceptability, reliability, validity, and precision were analyzed. Four hundred eleven patients with PD, 61.3% men, were recruited. The mean age was 64.5 +/- 9.9 years, and mean disease duration was 8.1 +/- 5.7 years. The NMSS score was 57.1 +/- 44.0 points. The scale was free of floor or ceiling effects. For domains, the Cronbach alpha coefficient ranged from 0.44 to 0.85. The intraclass correlation coefficient (0.90 for the total score, 0.67-0.91 for domains) and Lin concordance coefficient (0.88) suggested satisfactory reproducibility. The NMSS total score correlated significantly with SCOPA-Autonomic, PDQ-39, and EQ-5D (r(S) = 0.57-0.70). Association was close between NMSS domains and the corresponding SCOPA-Autonomic domains (r(S) = 0.51-0.65) and also with scales measuring related constructs (PDSS, SCOPA-PC) (all p < 0.0001). The NMSS total score was higher for women (p < 0.02) and for increasing disease duration, HY, and CISI-PD severity level (p < 0.001). The SEM was 13.91 for total score and 1.71 to 4.73 for domains. The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale is an acceptable, reproducible, valid, and precise assessment instrument for nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson disease.

Validation of the Chinese Non-Motor Symptoms Scale for Parkinson's disease: Results from a Chinese pilot study

Objectives To evaluate a Chinese version of the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) as an instrument for measuring non-motor symptoms (NMSs) in Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods We conducted a psychometric analysis of the Chinese version of NMSS using a cross-sectional study of 126 patients with PD. The battery also included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and was conducted by neurologists. Results There were significant correlations between the NMSS and PSQI scores (rS = 0.63, P < 0.001), as well as the NMSS and ESS scores (rS = 0.38, P < 0.001). Furthermore, significant positive correlations between NMSS and GDS, NMSS and HAMA, and NMSS and disease duration were also observed. Importantly, the sleep/fatigue index of the NMSS significantly correlated with the PSQI and ESS findings, the mood/cognition index of the NMSS significantly correlated with the GDS and HAMA findings, and the attention/memory index of the NMSS significantly correlated with the MMSE findings. Conclusion The Chinese version of the NMSS can be considered a comprehensive, useful measure for NMS evaluation in Chinese PD patients.

Non-motor symptoms in a prevalent population with Parkinson's disease in Tanzania

Introduction Most of the patients identified in a community-based prevalence study of Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Hai district, rural northern Tanzania, in 2005–2006, had not been previously diagnosed or treated. Methods Screening methods to identify patients have been previously described. Diagnosis was confirmed by the UK, PD Society Brain Bank Criteria. Patients were assessed in their own home with the assistance of a local translator and completed: Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS), Non-motor Symptoms Assessment Scale, PDQ-39, Hoehn and Yahr scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Results Thirty-three (23 male, mean age 74, range 38–94 years) patients were identified. Only 5 had ever taken PD medication, and only 3 were currently treated. Hoehn and Yahr stage ranged from 2 to 5, disease duration from 3 months to 19 years, mean UPDRS was 50 (range 24–97), mean PDQ-39 386 (range 219–580) and mean non-motor symptom scale score 62 (range 11–209). Some patients who had never taken medication for PD, and who did not fulfil the Lewy Body Dementia diagnostic criteria, had experienced visual hallucinations. Conclusions By studying patients at varying stages of PD who have not received treatment we can learn more about the symptoms of late stage PD and ascertain whether they are drug- or disease-related, or a combination of both. Hallucinations are likely to be a manifestation of the disease, but are often precipitated or exacerbated by medication. These patients have now commenced treatment, with close monitoring for complications, including motor or neuro–psychiatric symptoms.