Parkinson's Disease 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which staging system is commonly used to assess the severity and progression of Parkinson's disease?
- Gleason Scale
- Hoehn and Yahr Scale (Correct answer)
- Glasgow Coma Scale
- NIHSS Scale
Correct answer: Hoehn and Yahr Scale
The Hoehn and Yahr Scale rates Parkinson's disease severity from Stage 1 (unilateral symptoms) to Stage 5 (wheelchair-bound or bedridden).
Question 2: At Hoehn and Yahr Stage 3 of Parkinson's disease, what is the defining characteristic?
- Symptoms are strictly unilateral
- Bilateral symptoms with mild postural instability but independent living (Correct answer)
- Patient requires a wheelchair
- Patient is fully bedridden
Correct answer: Bilateral symptoms with mild postural instability but independent living
Stage 3 is marked by bilateral motor involvement and postural instability, but the patient can still live independently.
Question 3: What distinguishes idiopathic Parkinson's disease from Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a related parkinsonian syndrome?
- MSA does not cause tremor while PD always does
- MSA involves more prominent autonomic failure and poor response to levodopa (Correct answer)
- PD causes dementia while MSA never does
- MSA is caused by genetic mutations while PD is not
Correct answer: MSA involves more prominent autonomic failure and poor response to levodopa
MSA is distinguished from PD by prominent autonomic dysfunction (e.g., severe orthostatic hypotension) and a poor or unsustained response to levodopa therapy.
Question 4: Which autonomic dysfunction is commonly experienced by people with Parkinson's disease?
- Hypertension when standing
- Constipation and orthostatic hypotension (Correct answer)
- Excessive sweating only on the face
- Increased salivation and tearing
Correct answer: Constipation and orthostatic hypotension
Constipation and orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure drop upon standing) are among the most common autonomic dysfunctions in Parkinson's disease.
Question 5: What is the term for the phenomenon where Parkinson's patients suddenly cannot move, as if their feet are 'glued' to the floor?
- Festination
- Freezing of gait (Correct answer)
- Akinesia
- Dyskinesia
Correct answer: Freezing of gait
Freezing of gait is an episodic inability to initiate or continue walking, where the feet feel stuck to the floor despite an intention to move.
Question 6: Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) is most likely to develop in which scenario?
- In the first year after motor symptom onset
- In patients with well-controlled motor symptoms on levodopa
- In patients who have had motor symptoms for many years (Correct answer)
- Only in patients with the LRRK2 gene mutation
Correct answer: In patients who have had motor symptoms for many years
Parkinson's disease dementia typically develops in later stages of the disease, often many years after the onset of motor symptoms.
Question 7: Which neuropsychiatric symptom affects approximately 50% of Parkinson's disease patients at some point in their illness?
- Schizophrenia
- Depression (Correct answer)
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Correct answer: Depression
Depression affects approximately 50% of individuals with Parkinson's disease and is thought to be partly caused by the underlying neurochemical changes of the disease itself.
Parkinson's Disease 5
Which staging system is commonly used to assess the severity and progression of Parkinson's disease?