Trajectory of change in body mass index in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are some of the most common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's. Weight is a nutritional metric and can be affected by dysfunction of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This study aims to explore the change in trajectory of body mass index (BMI) in individuals with Parkinson's over the course of the disease including the prodromal and post-diagnostic periods.

Dopa Responsiveness in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Dopaminergic responsiveness is a defining feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there is limited information on how this evolves over time.

Objectives: To examine serial dopaminergic responses, if there are distinct patterns, and which factors predict these.

Motor Complications in Parkinson's Disease: Results from 3343 Patients Followed for up to 12 Years.

Background: Motor complications are well recognized in Parkinson's disease (PD), but their reported prevalence varies and functional impact has not been well studied.

Objectives: To quantify the presence, severity, impact and associated factors for motor complications in PD.

Methods: Analysis of three large prospective cohort studies of recent-onset PD patients followed for up to 12 years.

Striatal Dopamine Loss in Early Parkinson's Disease: Systematic Review and Novel Analysis of Dopamine Transporter Imaging.

Background: Neuropathological studies, based on small samples, suggest that symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) emerge when dopamine/nigrostriatal loss is around 50-80%. Functional neuroimaging can be applied in larger numbers during life, which allows analysis of the extent of dopamine loss more directly.

Objective: To quantify dopamine transporter (DaT) activity by neuroimaging in early PD.