Effects of Fatigue on Balance in Individuals With Parkinson Disease: Influence of Medication and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genotype

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy

Volume

42

Issue

2

First page number:

67

Last page number:

71

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Because falls can have deleterious con-sequences, it is important to understand the influence of fatigue and medications on balance in persons with Parkinson disease (PD). Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fatigue on balance in individuals with PD. Because brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to be related to motor performance, we also explored its role. Methods: A total of 27 individuals (age = 65.4 ± 8.1 years; males = 14, females = 13) with neurologist-diagnosed PD with 13 geno-typed for BDNF as Val66Val, 11 as Val66Met, 2 as Met66Met (1 refused). Participants were tested both on and off medication, 1 week apart. On both days, they completed a pre- and posttest sepa- rated by a fatiguing condition. Factorial analyses of variance were per-formed for the following balance domains: (1) anticipatory postural responses; (2) adaptive postural responses; (3) dynamic balance; (4) sensory orientation; and (5) gait kinematics. For BDNF, t-tests were conducted comparing genotype for the pre-post difference scores in both the on and off medication states.

Keywords

BDNF; Fall risk; Gait; Postural instability

Disciplines

Neurology | Physical Therapy


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