August 18, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is one of four U.S. sites participating in a study of long-term changes in quality of life and mobility that occur in people with Parkinson's disease. The results of this research will help advance the understanding of the way interventions, such as exercise, produce changes in quality of life and mobility during the course of the disease.
The study, funded by the Davis Phinney Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with Parkinson's disease (PD), in partnership with the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, will follow 200 people with PD for at least two years using a series of performance-based measures and patient-based, self-report questionnaires to examine walking ability, balance, disease-specific impairments and quality of life.
Although much is known about how neurological symptoms change during the course of the disease in people with PD, very little is known about the impact that disease progression has on day-to-day function and quality of life, according to the researchers.
"This study addresses the critical need to understand the ways in which mobility and quality of life decline for people with PD over a long period of time," said Matt Ford, Ph.D., assistant professor of physical therapy in the UAB School of Health Professions. "There is a growing body of research evidence that demonstrates the benefits of exercise in improving walking, strength, flexibility and quality of life in people with PD. In order to appreciate the potential impact that exercise may have on improving mobility and quality of life, we need to understand more about the natural changes that occur in mobility and quality of life over time."
As the worldwide life expectancy increases, the number of individuals with PD age 50 and older in the world's 10 most populous countries is expected to double to 9 million by 2030 from approximately 4.5 million in 2005. These numbers highlight the importance of including programs and activities such as exercise to improve movement, function and quality of life.
A recent survey conducted by the Davis Phinney Foundation found that communication about quality of life between people with PD and their treatment providers is lacking. Among the findings, 81 percent of people with PD surveyed said they believed that exercise can slow disease progression, but less than half of those surveyed (40 percent) reported discussing their exercise with their physician (i.e., neurologist or movement disorder specialist) within six months of diagnosis, and almost one in five (19 percent) said they never discussed exercise with their physician. Further, almost all respondents (99 percent) reported discussing medication with their physician, yet only half discussed depression (52 percent) and only 33 percent discussed nutrition. Full survey findings are available at www.davisphinneyfoundation.org.
"The goal of the Davis Phinney Foundation is to provide information and tools that people living with Parkinson's can use to live well with Parkinson's disease today and in the future," said Amy Howard, executive director of the Davis Phinney Foundation. "This study will provide a much-needed and comprehensive look at what happens to people with PD over time so that we can understand the impact of exercise and other programs and treatments on improving the quality of their lives."
About the UAB Department of Physical Therapy
The UAB Department of Physical Therapy has offered outstanding educational programs in physical therapy for more than 35 years, with a top 25 ranking for the past decade. Currently, it offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program for students who choose to become physical therapists, and the Doctor of Science degree program for physical therapists who choose to advance their knowledge and skills at the post-professional level.
About the Davis Phinney Foundation
The Davis Phinney Foundation (DPF) was created in 2004 by former Tour de France cyclist and Olympic Bronze medalist Davis Phinney. The DPF funds innovative and progressive research focused on exercise, speech and other quality of life therapies, hosts a series of symposia that present research and programs that demonstrate the benefits of these therapies and encourages those affected by the disease to celebrate the daily victories in their lives.
About the Parkinson's Disease Foundation
The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy to serve the nearly 1 million people in the United States living with Parkinson's, their families and caregivers. Since its founding in 1957, PDF has provided more than $75 million to support scientific research for Parkinson's disease.