Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurones within the basal ganglia. Accruing evidence from a variety of different studies suggests pathophysiological changes may first originate in the gut before they become apparent within the brain. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of Gastrointestinal Tract symptoms (GIT) of early-stage PD patients. As such, this research aims to provide further supporting evidence to this limited field.

Methods: A single-center cross-sectional study conducted over 4 months which followed 12 participants with early-stage PD and 9 healthy controls. Participants completed a PD-specific gastrointestinal symptom questionnaire. Disease progression was evaluated through the Hoehn and Yahr Scale and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating part III (UPDRS) motor score.

Results: Tenesmus (83.3%), constipation (58.3%) and abdominal bloating (58.3%) were the most experienced symptoms for early-stage PD patients. Tenesmus (p=0.006) and constipation (p=0.03) also showed statistically significant differences between PD and control groups. However, there was no significant relationship between the prevalence of gut symptoms and UPDRS motor score (r=0.278, p=0.38).

Conclusion: A variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly lower gastrointestinal tract, were prevalent in early-stage disease. There was no apparent relationship between the prevalence of gastrointestinal tract symptoms and the UPDRS motor score. A well designed, appropriate gastrointestinal tract questionnaire to screen for symptoms in early-stage disease may be of use in future clinical practice.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; Gastrointestinal symptoms; Brain