Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale

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The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) is a rating scale used to follow the longitudinal course of Parkinson's disease.

It is made up of the following sections^[1]:

1. Part I evaluation of Mentation, behavior, and mood;
2. Part IIself evaluation of the activities of daily life (ADLs) including speech, swallowing, handwriting, dressing, hygiene, falling, salivating, turning in bed, walking, cutting food;
3. Part III clinician-scored motor evaluation;
4. Part IV Hoehn and Yahr stating of severity of Parkinson disease.
5. Part V Schwab and England ADL scale.

These are evaluated by interview and clinical observation. Some sections require multiple grades assigned to each extremity.

Clinicians and researchers alike use the UPDRS and the motor section in particular to follow the progression of a person's Parkinson's disease. Scientific researchers use it to measure benefits from a given therapy in a more unified and accepted rating system. Neurologists also use it in clinical practice to follow the progression of their patients' symptoms in a more objective manner.^[2]

Following the UPDRS scores over time provides insight into the patient's disease progression. For instance Michael J. Fox's symptoms started with a slight tremor so his motor score would have been less than 10. For most patients, the "mentation, behavior and mood" scores increase later in the disease, but there is a subset for whom those symptoms develop early on. ^[3]

[edit] Similar rating scales

Other rating scales for Parkinson's disease are Hoehn and Yahr scale and Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale.

[edit] External links

• Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale on National Parkinson Foundation site
• Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale on Movement Disorders Virtual University site

[edit] References

1. ^ Comprehesive pharmacy review, Leon Shargel, 6th edition, p998
2. ^ http://www.pdf.org/en/pins_res_center/question/8421
3. ^ Understanding Parkinson's disease By Richard B. Rosenbaum 2006