Objective monitoring of motor symptom severity and their progression in Parkinson's disease using a digital gait device

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Tamara Raschka - , Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing (Author)
  • Jackrite To - , Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing, University of Bonn (Author)
  • Tom Hähnel - , Department of Neurology, Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing (Author)
  • Stefano Sapienza - , University of Luxembourg (Author)
  • Alzhraa Ibrahim - , University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Enrico Glaab - , University of Luxembourg (Author)
  • Heiko Gaßner - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Ralph Steidl - , Portabiles HealthCare Technologies GmbH (Author)
  • Jürgen Winkler - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Jean-Christophe Corvol - , Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne Université (Author)
  • Jochen Klucken - , University of Luxembourg (Author)
  • Holger Fröhlich - , Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing, University of Bonn (Author)

Abstract

Digital technologies for monitoring motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD) underwent a strong evolution during the past years. Although it has been shown for several devices that derived digital gait features can reliably discriminate between healthy controls and people with PD, the specific gait tasks best suited for monitoring motor symptoms and especially their progression, remain unclear. Furthermore, the potential benefit as endpoint in a clinical trial context has not been investigated so far. In this study we employed a digital gait device manufactured by Portabiles HCT, which has been used by 339 patients within the LuxPark cohort (n = 161, Luxembourg) as well as within routine clinical care visits at the University Medical Center Erlangen (n = 178, Erlangen, Germany). Linear (mixed) models were used to assess the association of task-specific digital gait features with disease progression and motor symptom severity measured by several clinical scores. Furthermore, we employed machine learning to evaluate whether digital gait assessments were prognostic for patient-level motor symptom progression. Overall, digital gait features derived from Portabiles digital gait device were found to effectively monitor motor symptoms and their longitudinal progression. At the same time the prognostic performance of digital gait features was limited. However, we could show a strong reduction in required sample size, if digital gait features were employed as surrogates for traditional endpoints in a clinical trial context. Thus, Portabiles digital gait device provides an effective way to objectively monitor motor symptoms and their progression in PD. Furthermore, the digital gait device bears strong potential as an alternative and easily assessable endpoint predictor in a clinical trial context.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number25541
JournalScientific reports
Volume15
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 105010594478

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

Subject groups, research areas, subject areas according to Destatis

Keywords

  • Humans, Parkinson Disease/physiopathology, Male, Female, Disease Progression, Aged, Middle Aged, Gait/physiology, Severity of Illness Index, Machine Learning