Assessing Handwriting in Patients with Parkinson‘s Disease

Czech version

Authors: L. Masárová ¹; P. Drotár ³; J. Mekyska ³; Z. Smékal ³; I. Rektorová ^1,2
Authors‘ workplace: I. neurologická klinika LF MU a FN u sv. Anny v Brně ¹; Výzkumná skupina Aplikované neurovědy, CEITEC – Středoevropský technologický institut MU, Brno ²; Ústav telekomunikací, FEKT, VUT v Brně ³
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2014; 77/110(4): 456-462
Category: Original Paper

Podpořeno grantem IGA MZČR NT/ 13499: Řeč, její poruchy a kognitivní funkce u Parkinsonovy nemoci. Peter Drotár je finančně podporován projektem CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0005 Vysokého učení technického v Brně.

Overview

Aim:
The aim of this study was to assess micrographia in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) as compared to healthy controls (HC) using a digitizing tablet.

Methods:
We included 40 PD (mean 68.6 ± 11.36 years, duration of illness 8.02 ± 4.79 years) and 40 age- and sex-matched HC (mean 62.55 ± 11. 22 years). All subjects were right-handed, without the presence of depression or dementia. Each subject underwent seven exercises for writing and drawing of Archimedes spiral and ellipses using a digitizing tablet. The speed parameters of micrographia and drawing during the movement of a pen in the air and on the tablet were evaluated. The Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation and Benjamini-Hochbergs method were used for statistical data analysis.

Results:
A statistically significant reduction in parameters of velocity, acceleration, and jerk was found when comparing both groups during writing. Changes were more pronounced with increased length of the written segment. The differences between the two groups were more pronounced when the in-air movements were assessed, i.e. during movement preparation. The values decreased up to 20% compared to HC.

Conclusion:
PD-specific changes assessed with a digitizing tablet were demonstrated not only during writing but also during preparation for writing. The results of the study may have a direct clinical impact: further research into its use as a clinical marker of early PD is likely to follow.

Key words:
micrographia – Parkinson‘s disease – writing

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