Levodopa increases speed of alternating movements in Parkinson's disease patients.
Disturbances of alternating movement execution are a characteristic clinical sign of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Objectives were to compare instrumentally measured diadochokinetic motion series carrying out before and 1 h after standardised levodopa intake and to correlate the device results with the respective rating scores of the PD patients. Maximum velocity and interval improved following levodopa application. The amplitude of motions did not differ between both assessment moments. Closer correlations between rating- and diadochokinesimeter outcomes appeared before levodopa intake.
Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital Bochum, Gudrunstr. 56, 44791 Bochum, Germany. th.mueller@alexius.de
Thomas
T
Müller
Sören
S
Peters
Ali
A
Harati
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa