Evaluation of a sensor algorithm for motor state rating in Parkinson's disease

Abstract Introduction A treatment response objective index (TRIS) was previously developed based on sensor data from pronation-supination tests. This study aimed to examine the performance of TRIS for medication effects in a new population sample with Parkinson's disease (PD) and its usefulness for constructing individual dose-response models. Methods Twenty-five patients with PD performed a series of tasks throughout a levodopa challenge while wearing sensors. TRIS was used to determine motor changes in pronation-supination tests following a single levodopa dose, and was compared to clinical ratings including the Treatment Response Scale (TRS) and six sub-items of the UPDRS part III. Results As expected, correlations between TRIS and clinical ratings were lower in the new population than in the initial study. TRIS was still significantly correlated to TRS ( r s  = 0.23, P r s  = 0.38, RMSE = 1.29, P off to their best on state ( P  = 0.024). Individual dose-response models could be fitted for more participants when TRIS was used for modelling than when TRS ratings were used. Conclusion The objective sensor index shows promise for constructing individual dose-response models, but further evaluations and retraining of the TRIS algorithm are desirable to improve its performance and to ensure its clinical effectiveness.