Gender differences in Parkinson's disease symptom profile

Abstract

Gender symptom differences were studied in 948 subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD) using a questionnaire covering the most common symptoms associated with PD at debut (SP-1) and at present (SP-2). The symptoms most frequently reported by both genders were: tremor, fumblingness, writing problems, rigidity and fatigue. At SP-1 females reported neck-pain and low back pain more frequently than males. At SP-2 subjects reported an increased number of symptoms. The following symptoms were more frequent among males than females: writing difficulties, fumblingness, gait problems, speech problems, increased flow of saliva, lack of initiative. Sleep problems were common in both sexes with inability to turn in bed and calf muscle cramps in a high percentage. A majority of female subjects find their symptoms (e.g. depression) constantly distressing. Although depression is not one of primary reported symptoms (36%) attention is called for, due to the problem with compliance to treatment regimes. About 30% do not report having tremor and rigidity. This study indicates the usefulness of a symptom profile instrument capable of capturing the many symptoms involved in PD. Such an instrument could be used to detect apparent mistakes in medication and thereby increase the function and quality of life for the individual.

Neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions of estrogen: Basic mechanisms and clinical implications

“…[121] examined 630 PD patients and also found that men exhibited more severe parkinsonian motor features but that women exhibited more levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Other studies have similarity reported worse rigidity in male PD patients [122], and that males also had more frequent symptoms such as writing difficulties, fumblingness, speech problems, and gait problems than females [123].…”

“…For instance, a number of studies have reported a higher incidence of PD in men as compared to women [116][117][118], with a recent metaanalysis reporting the relative risk for PD being 1.5 times greater in men than women [119]. A number of studies have also reported sex differences in symptom severity among male and female PD patients [120][121][122][123]. For instance, Rajput et.…”

Measuring Fatigue in Parkinson's Disease: A Psychometric Study of Two Brief Generic Fatigue Questionnaires

“…This can pose a challenge to measurement. In Parkinson's disease (PD), fatigue has been reported in 40-65% of patients and although many consider it to be one of their most disabling symptoms, it often remains undetected in clinical practice (4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Its cause remains unclear.…”

“…Studies have tended to use fatigue scales from generic health status questionnaires or approaches not validated in PD (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(10)(11)(12). Although generic health status questionnaires have been validated broadly, their subscales are brief and often lack sufficient detail for accurately measuring individuals.…”

Structural Brain Sex Differences in Parkinson’s Disease: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study

“…Furthermore, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) showed that males are more affected by motor symptoms than females, whereas dyskinesia was more prevalent in females than males [34,35]. In addition, with the increase of the disease's duration, more Parkinsonian symptoms affected males [36]. According to Haaxma et al [27], estrogen status may play an important role before there are clinical manifestations of PD by delaying the onset of the disease in females.…”