Is the dopaminergic loss associated with gait and postural impairments in subjects with Parkinson's disease at different motor stages?

• Published in: The European journal of neuroscience Vol. 50; no. 12; pp. 3889 - 3895
• Main Authors: Corrêa, Philipe Souza, Pagnussat, Aline Souza, Cabeleira, Maria Eduarda Parcianello, Schifino, Giulia Palermo, Rieder, Carlos Roberto de Mello, Silva Junior, Neivo, Cechetti, Fernanda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Dopamine; Dopamine receptors; Dopamine transporter; Gait; Kinematics; Movement disorders; Neostriatum; Neurodegenerative diseases; Parkinson disease; Parkinson's disease; postural balance; Posture; Single photon emission computed tomography; SPECT‐CT; Parkinson disease; postural balance; SPECT-CT; gait; dopamine
• ISSN: 0953-816X; 1460-9568; 1460-9568
• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14522

Gait and postural control deficiencies in Parkinson's disease (PD) involve several specific motor aspects. The aim of this study was to identify and compare the main changes in gait kinematics and postural control with dopaminergic loss in the striatum region. This is a cross‐sectional study that included 42 individuals with PD at different motor stages, according to the Hoehn & Yahr scale (H&Y). Motor subsection of the Movement Disorder Society‐Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale—part III (MDS‐UPDRS III) was used to evaluate general motor aspects. Gait kinematics was assessed using a three‐dimensional motion capture system. Postural control was assessed by stabilometry using force platforms. Dopamine depletion was verified through 99mTc‐TRODAT‐1 (SPECT‐CT) examination. We included 12, 15 and 15 individuals classified as H&Y I, II and III, respectively. We identified worse values of dopamine transporter uptake, MDS‐UPDRS III, gait parameters (velocity, step length and stride length) and center of pressure displacement as the disease progressed. Our results indicate that higher dopaminergic loss and gait and postural control deficits occur between the H&Y levels II and III.