| Keywords |
Biomechanics; Gait dysfunction; Non-motor symptoms; Parkinson’s disease |
| Abstract |
The purpose of this review paper is to better understand how non-motor symptoms are related with gait dysfunction of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is mainly characterized by motor symptoms. As one of the most common motor problems in people with PD, gait dysfunction leads to not only a decrease in mobility, but also a reduction in quality of life for persons with PD. Further, disabling symptoms in PD are also manifested as non-motor features, including depression, anxiety and apathy, all of which has significant impact on overall quality of life. Thus, it is important to understand how psychological symptoms co-manifest along with motor symptoms in people with PD. In considering the co-occurrence, it is worth noting that these non-motor symptoms of PD occur in both early and advanced stages of the disease.
This points to the possibility of utilizing psychological symptoms as key indicators to predicting movement disabilities spotting a potential PD patient. Therefore, understanding Parkinson's gait and non-motor symptoms together is essential for diagnosis and treatment for people with PD, providing important clinical implications to researchers and clinicians. |