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Sarcopenia, malnutrition, and fatigue in de Novo Parkinson's disease- support for early rehabilitation

Lindholm, Beata LU ; Dernbrant, Ylva LU ; Westergren, Albert LU and Franzen, Erika (2025) In Neurological Sciences
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia (loss of muscle strength/mass) reduces physical performance (walking, strength, mobility) and is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), but data on newly diagnosed, untreated patients ("de novo") are scarce. Fatigue is frequent in PD and linked to physical decline and malnutrition, key sarcopenia risk factors. We aimed to describe sarcopenia prevalence, malnutrition risk, and fatigue in de novo PD and explore differences based on fatigue presence.

METHODS: Participants (n = 49) underwent physical tests [chair stand test (CST), hand grip strength, gait speed, Timed Up and Go test (TUG)] to assess sarcopenia. Malnutrition risk and fatigue were assessed using the Nutrition Form version 2 (MEONF-II) and the 16-item... (More)

OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia (loss of muscle strength/mass) reduces physical performance (walking, strength, mobility) and is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), but data on newly diagnosed, untreated patients ("de novo") are scarce. Fatigue is frequent in PD and linked to physical decline and malnutrition, key sarcopenia risk factors. We aimed to describe sarcopenia prevalence, malnutrition risk, and fatigue in de novo PD and explore differences based on fatigue presence.

METHODS: Participants (n = 49) underwent physical tests [chair stand test (CST), hand grip strength, gait speed, Timed Up and Go test (TUG)] to assess sarcopenia. Malnutrition risk and fatigue were assessed using the Nutrition Form version 2 (MEONF-II) and the 16-item Parkinson's Disease Fatigue Scale (PFS-16).

RESULTS: Twenty (40.8%) showed probable sarcopenia. Eight (16%) had fatigue, and 8 (19%) were at risk of malnutrition. No significant differences in sarcopenia indicators were found between groups, but those with fatigue had lower physical performance (CST, p = 0.033; TUG, p = 0.011), slower gait speed (p = 0.050), and poorer appetite (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of de novo PD presented probable sarcopenia. Fatigue was associated with poorer physical performance and appetite but not sarcopenia. Whether fatigue increases risk of future malnutrition/sarcopenia is unclear due to cross-sectional study design. It should be further explored using a longitudinal study design.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Neurological Sciences
publisher
Springer-Verlag Italia s.r.l.
external identifiers
  • pmid:40553423
ISSN
1590-1874
DOI
10.1007/s10072-025-08317-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2025. The Author(s).
id
aeb81978-6994-4b3b-96c2-bdf53147e20a
date added to LUP
2025-06-28 06:34:19
date last changed
2025-06-30 08:06:43
@article{aeb81978-6994-4b3b-96c2-bdf53147e20a,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia (loss of muscle strength/mass) reduces physical performance (walking, strength, mobility) and is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), but data on newly diagnosed, untreated patients ("de novo") are scarce. Fatigue is frequent in PD and linked to physical decline and malnutrition, key sarcopenia risk factors. We aimed to describe sarcopenia prevalence, malnutrition risk, and fatigue in de novo PD and explore differences based on fatigue presence.</p><p>METHODS: Participants (n = 49) underwent physical tests [chair stand test (CST), hand grip strength, gait speed, Timed Up and Go test (TUG)] to assess sarcopenia. Malnutrition risk and fatigue were assessed using the Nutrition Form version 2 (MEONF-II) and the 16-item Parkinson's Disease Fatigue Scale (PFS-16).</p><p>RESULTS: Twenty (40.8%) showed probable sarcopenia. Eight (16%) had fatigue, and 8 (19%) were at risk of malnutrition. No significant differences in sarcopenia indicators were found between groups, but those with fatigue had lower physical performance (CST, p = 0.033; TUG, p = 0.011), slower gait speed (p = 0.050), and poorer appetite (p = 0.003).</p><p>CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of de novo PD presented probable sarcopenia. Fatigue was associated with poorer physical performance and appetite but not sarcopenia. Whether fatigue increases risk of future malnutrition/sarcopenia is unclear due to cross-sectional study design. It should be further explored using a longitudinal study design.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lindholm, Beata and Dernbrant, Ylva and Westergren, Albert and Franzen, Erika}},
  issn         = {{1590-1874}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  publisher    = {{Springer-Verlag Italia s.r.l.}},
  series       = {{Neurological Sciences}},
  title        = {{Sarcopenia, malnutrition, and fatigue in de Novo Parkinson's disease- support for early rehabilitation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10072-025-08317-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10072-025-08317-1}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}