Table 1.

Commonly used scales for assessing PD.

Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS): The UPDRS is one of the most widely used scales for assessing Parkinson’s disease. It is a comprehensive scale that includes multiple sections to assess different aspects of motor function, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. The UPDRS also includes sections to assess non-motor symptoms, such as mood, cognition, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Hoehn and Yahr Scale: The Hoehn and Yahr Scale is a widely used clinical staging scale that assesses the severity of Parkinson’s disease based on the presence and severity of motor symptoms. It ranges from stage 1 (mildest) to stage 5 (most severe) and is often used to classify the overall disease severity and track disease progression over time.

Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS): The MDS-UPDRS is a modified version of the UPDRS that has been developed by the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) to provide a more standardized and comprehensive assessment of Parkinson’s disease. It includes additional items and scoring criteria compared to the original UPDRS, and it has come to be widely used in research and clinical trials.

Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39): The PDQ-39 is a self-reported questionnaire that assesses health-related quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. It includes multiple domains, such as mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, and social support, and provides a subjective assessment of the impact of Parkinson’s disease on the individual’s quality of life.

Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS): The NMSS is a scale specifically designed to assess non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including mood disturbances, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, autonomic dysfunction, and sensory symptoms. It provides a comprehensive assessment of non-motor symptoms, which are common in Parkinson’s disease but may not be captured via traditional motor assessment scales.