Progressive Gait Deficits in Parkinson’s Disease: A Wearable-Based Biannual 5-Year Prospective Study

• Main Authors: Markus A. Hobert, Susanne Nussbaum, Tanja Heger, Daniela Berg, Walter Maetzler, Sebastian Heinzel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019-02-01
• Series: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
• Subjects: Parkinson’s disease; progression marker; gait; wearable sensor; prospective study
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00022/full

Background: Gait changes occur during all Parkinson’s disease (PD) stages and wearable sensor-derived gait parameters may quantify PD progression. However, key aspects that may qualify quantitative gait parameters as progression markers in PD remain elusive.Objectives: Longitudinal changes in gait parameters from a lower-back sensor under convenient and challenging walking conditions in early- and mid-stage PD patients (E-PD, M-PD) compared to controls were investigated.Methods: Normal- and fast-pace parameters (step: number, time, velocity, variability) were assessed every 6 months for up to 5 years in 22 E-PD (<4 years baseline disease duration), 18 M-PD (>5 years) and 24 controls. Parameter trajectories and associations with MDS-UPDRS-III were tested using generalized estimating equations.Results: Normal-pace step number (annual change in E-PD: 2.1%, Time∗Group: p = 0.001) and step time variability (8.5%, p < 0.05) longitudinally increased in E-PD compared to controls (0.7%, -12%). For fast pace, no significant progression differences between groups were observed. Longitudinal changes in M-PD did not differ significantly from controls. MDS-UPDRS-III was largely associated with normal-pace parameters in M-PD.Conclusion: Wearables can quantify progressive gait deficits indicated by increasing step number and step time variability in E-PD. In M-PD, and for fast-pace, gait parameters possess limited potential as PD progression markers.