Opinion
Video
Monitoring Tremor in PD With Wearable Devices
Author(s):
Zoltan Mari, MD, dives deeper into tremors, a troublesome feature of PD, and what devices are available and upcoming to diagnose, monitor, and control tremors.
This is a video synopsis/summary of a panel discussion involving Zoltan Mari, MD.
Remote tremor monitoring addresses the challenges of accurately assessing tremor, a common and often disabling symptom of Parkinson's disease. Traditional in-office assessments may be unreliable due to tremor variability and patient misinterpretation of symptoms, leading to confusion between tremor and dyskinesias. Objective measurements become crucial, especially considering patients' biases and unreliable self-reports.
Advancements in remote monitoring technology have greatly improved tremor assessment over the past decade. Devices like the Personal KinetiGraph and the Kinesia device family offer continuous tracking of tremor frequency throughout the day. While they may not precisely measure tremor amplitude, they provide valuable data on the duration and frequency of tremor episodes.
Remote monitoring facilitates correlation with patient activities, such as medication intake, aiding in assessing medication response and efficacy. This is particularly important for identifying levodopa-resistant tremors and determining the need for alternative treatments. Unlike subjective patient reports, objective measurements from these devices offer reliable insights into tremor severity and its impact on daily life.
In summary, remote tremor monitoring offers a valuable tool for clinicians to accurately assess tremor frequency and duration, aiding in treatment decisions and improving patient care.
Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by NeurologyLive editorial staff.
