Limited Effect of Dopaminergic Medication on Straight Walking and Turning in Early-to-Moderate Parkinson's Disease during Single and Dual Tasking

BACKGROUND: In Parkinson's disease (PD), the effects of dopaminergic medication on straight walking and turning were mainly investigated under single tasking (ST) conditions. However, multitasking situations are considered more daily relevant.

METHODS: Thirty-nine early-to-moderate PD patients performed the following standardized ST and dual tasks as fast as possible for 1 min during On- and Off-medication while wearing inertial sensors: straight walking and turning, checking boxes, and subtracting serial 7s. Quantitative gait parameters as well as velocity of the secondary tasks were analyzed.

RESULTS: The following parameters improved significantly in On-medication during ST: gait velocity during straight walking (p = 0.03); step duration (p = 0.048) and peak velocity (p = 0.04) during turning; velocity of checking boxes during ST (p = 0.04) and DT (p = 0.04). Velocity of checking boxes was the only parameter that also improved during DT.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that dopaminergic medication does not relevantly influence straight walking and turning in early-to-moderate PD during DT.