MDS Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS)

Staging tools, such as the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), are useful for assessing the progression of PD.^1,3

The MDS-UPDRS consists of four parts, two of which focus on activities of daily living (ADL).¹

(1)‘Non-motor ADL’ assesses the impact of non-motor symptoms on the patient’s ability to carry out everyday activities independently.¹ It assesses problems relating to cognitive function, sleep, mood, psychosis, fatigue, constipation, and urinary problems.¹

(2)‘Motor ADL’ assesses the impact of motor symptoms on the patient’s ability to carry out everyday activities independently.¹ It assesses problems relating to speech; chewing and swallowing; eating; dressing; hygiene; handwriting; hobbies and other activities; turning in bed; tremor; getting up from a bed or deep seat; walking and balance; freezing; and falls.¹

(3)‘Motor examination’ is a clinical assessment of motor function, including speech, muscle rigidity, facial expression, hand and leg movements, toe and finger tapping, gait, tremor, and posture.¹

(4)‘Motor complications’ covers the presence and severity of motor complications, such as fluctuations, OFF-state dystonia, and other dyskinesias.¹

References:
1.Goetz CG, Tilley BC, Shaftman SR, et al.; Movement Disorder Society UPDRS Revision Task Force. Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS): scale presentation and clinimetric testing results. Mov Disord 2008; 23 (15): 2129–2170.

2.Goetz CG, Fahn S, Martinez-Martin P, et al. Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS): process, format, and clinimetric testing plan. Mov Disord 2007; 22 (1): 41–47.

3.DeMaagd G, Philip A. Parkinson’s disease and its management. Pharmacol Therapeut 2015; 40 (8): 504–510.