Sex differences in tracking performance in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Abstract

To examine whether Parkinson's disease affects men and women differently, relative to age-matched controls, in manual tracking. Cross-sectional exploratory study. Ambulatory activity center. Ten men and 10 women with Parkinson's disease; 10 men and 10 women age-matched controls. Patients tracked a sinewave target on a computer monitor in stimulus-response compatible (finger extension/flexion in vertical) or incompatible (horizontal) conditions. Accuracy Index (AI) score on finger movement tracking tests. With data collapsed across sexes, AI scores were significantly higher for control subjects compared with subjects with Parkinson's disease in compatible (P<.001) and incompatible (P<.001) positions. With data partitioned out across sexes, control men tracked significantly higher than men with Parkinson's disease in compatible (P=.004) and incompatible (P<.001) positions, but control women did not track significantly different from women with Parkinson's disease in either position. Control men tracked significantly higher than control women in compatible (P=.003) and incompatible (P=.001) positions, but men with Parkinson's disease did not track significantly different from women with Parkinson's disease in either position. Parkinson's disease affects men and women disproportionately in manual tracking. Comparisons between subjects with Parkinson's disease and controls in spatial skill should include sex as a factor. More research is needed to confirm these findings.