SYMPTOMS AND DURATION OF THE PRODROMAL PHASE IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

To investigate the duration of a prodromal phase before the onset of t he classic symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, the authors con ducted a retrospective case-control study of 60 patients with Parkinso n's disease and 58 age-and sex-matched control subjects, covering the decade preceding the onset of classic Parkinson's disease. The symptom s were derived from files of the patients' general practitioners. Comp ared with control subjects, patients pre-Parkinson's disease had more central nervous system, psychologic, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascul ar (i.e., autonomic) symptoms. Patients pre-Parkinson's disease also m ade more visits to general practitioners and medical specialists. The results indicate that the onset of classic parkinsonism is frequently preceded by a prodromal phase lasting from 4-6 years.