Randomized trial identifies novel TUG biomarkers to monitor disease progression in Parkinson's Disease, suggesting improved diagnostic utility.
Key Points
This study aims to identify novel Timed Up and Go (TUG) biomarkers to differentiate healthy individuals from Parkinson's Disease patients and track disease progression.
81 participants performed a 3 m TUG test using MotionCore, with distinct phases analyzed (sit-to-walk, turning, walk-to-sit).
The study differentiated between 48 Parkinson's Disease patients and 33 healthy controls (HCs).
Phase-specific kinematic parameters and their correlations with clinical scales were evaluated.
PD patients showed significantly prolonged durations and altered turning metrics versus HCs.
Turning parameters correlated strongly with disease severity and clinical scales like UPDRS and FOG-Q.
Stage-specific analyses indicated that metrics such as step counts and speed effectively distinguished disease severity, particularly in Stage 3.