Changes of hand preference in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

This study focused on the difference between pre-morbid and current hand preference of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). A survey instrument comprised items measuring pre-morbid and current hand preference and question related to the side of occurrence of initial symptoms. These questions were administered to 471 PD patients. The results show a significant change of pre-morbid right hand preference toward using the left when the side of PD onset was on the right hand and vice versa. Disease duration does not predict the amount of hand preference shift.

The Influence of Parkinson’s Disease Motor Symptom Asymmetry on Hand Performance: An Examination of the Grooved Pegboard Task

“…That said both of the aforementioned groups differed from the RSA-PD group, where their laterality quotient was negative and thus indicative of superior left-hand performance. This extends the work by Štochl and colleagues [ 14 ] who noted a significant change from right- to left-hand preference when PD onset was on the right and vice versa. Štochl and colleagues' [ 14 ] methods were limited to a 7-item hand preference questionnaire, where premorbid hand preference was collected retrospectively; therefore, the current study provides additional support that PD motor symptom asymmetry does indeed influence handedness of individuals with PD.…”

“…Summarizing, results of the current study indicate that when the nonpreferred hand of right handers is affected by PD motor symptoms, superior preferred hand performance seen in H-OAs [ 22 , 23 ] is further exaggerated in tasks that require precision. Regardless of whether the task requires precision, or simply speed, when the preferred hand of right handers is affected, there is an evident shift to superior left-hand performance, which may inevitably manifest as a switch in hand preference [ 14 ].…”

“…Furthermore, significant changes of premorbid hand preference have been reported. More specifically, Štochl et al observed a significant change from right- to left-hand preference when PD onset was on the right and vice versa [ 14 ].…”

Parkinson's Disease Patients with Dominant Hemibody Affected by the Disease Rely More on Vision to Maintain Upright Postural Control

“…Therefore, the hypothesis will need to be tested in future studies by checking whether the parallel and opposite relationship can be observed in a left-handed sample. Štochl, Croudace, Brožová, Klempíř, Roth, and Růžička (2012 ) showed there was a shift in the hemibody dominance if the preferred side was initially aff ected by the disease. Specifi cally, during the course of the disease patients begin to perform motor tasks with the unaff ected hemibody.…”

Modelling item scores of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale for greater trial efficiency

“…Change of hand preference while the disease progresses has also been reported. 36 This is an area to be investigated further, in different datasets and at different stages of the symptom progression. Another possible reason for the consistent worse performance by the left side was this side being always examined later per UPDRS form.…”