Non-Motor Fluctuations in Parkinson’s Disease: Underdiagnosed Yet Important
Iro Boura, Karolina Popławska-Domaszewicz, Cleanthe Spanaki, Rosabel Chen, Daniele Urso, Riaan van Coller, Alexander Storch, К. Ray Chaudhuri
Abstract
Non-motor fluctuations (NMFs) in Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly affect patients' well-being. Despite being identified over two decades ago, NMFs remain largely underrecognized, undertreated, and poorly understood. While they are often temporally associated with motor fluctuations (MFs) and can share common risk factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms, NMFs and MFs are currently considered distinct entities. The prevalence and severity of NMFs, often categorized into neuropsychiatric, sensory, and autonomic subtypes, vary significantly across studies due to the heterogeneous PD populations screened and the diverse evaluation tools applied. The consistent negative impact of NMFs on PD patients' quality of life underscores the importance of further investigations via focused and controlled studies, validated assessment instruments and novel digital technologies. High-quality research is essential to illuminate the complex pathophysiology and clinical nuances of NMFs, ultimately enhancing clinicians' diagnostic and treatment options in routine clinical practice.