Smartphone app detects severity of Parkinson’s symptoms

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Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 9 May 2018

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A smartphone app– created by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Rochester Medical Centre and Aston University – can detect the severity of symptoms in people with Parkinson’s, according to a recent study.

The study, which appeared in medical journal ‘JAMA’, found that the HopkinsPD app generated severity score levels which strongly correlated with standard movement tests given by physicians.

HopkinsPD is expected to help medical professionals analyse Parkinson’s symptoms. Dr Ray Dorsey, neurologist at the University of Rochester, said: “Until these types of studies, we had very limited data on how people function on Saturdays and Sundays because patients don’t come to the clinic.

“We also had very limited data about how people with Parkinson’s do at two o’clock in the morning or 11 o’clock at night because, unless they’re hospitalised, they’re generally not being seen in clinics at those times.”

For information on assessment tools please visit the EPDA website.

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A research team in Japan has suggested that around four hours of weekly moderate exercise is associated with a better clinical course of early-stage Parkinson’s. Their study, published in ‘Neurology’, drew on data from 237 people with the condition, whose symptoms were monitored over a period of up to six years. The research showed that people who were regularly active for at least one to two hours, one or two days a week, were better able to maintain daily activities than those who exercised less – and even experienced a “slower deterioration of processing speed”. The researchers highlighted that these benefits stemmed from maintaining regular exercise over time, rather than levels of activity at the onset of the condition. They added that their findings “suggest it may never be too late for someone with Parkinson’s to start an exercise programme”.

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Smartphone app detects severity of Parkinson’s symptoms

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 9 May 2018

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Regular exercise may slow progression of early Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

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Smartphone app detects severity of Parkinson’s symptoms

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 9 May 2018

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

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Interviews

A musical exploring young onset Parkinson’s

Recipes & Nutrition

Try making this delicious tropical fruit almond milk smoothie

Perspectives

Thank you, Parkinson’s disease: 10 reasons to be grateful this Thanksgiving

Regular exercise may slow progression of early Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

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