Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease Evaluation

A convenience sample of 104 participants (see Table 1 for demographic and clinical characteristics) with idiopathic PD were assessed either as part of participation in an ICD clinical trial or through convenience sampling at the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the University of Pennsylvania between January 2010 and April 2011. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Penn approved the study, and written consent was obtained from participants prior to study participation. Disease severity was assessed with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Hoehn and Yahr stage,¹³ and levodopa and dopamine agonist dosages were converted to levodopa equivalent daily dosages (LEDDs).^{14 (link)}