Gait characteristics align with a clinically defined biological staging system in Parkinson’s disease
Gait characteristics align with a clinically defined biological staging system in Parkinson’s disease
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Publication status: preprint
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Original abstract
Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) exhibits a heterogeneous course, posing challenges for accurate trajectory prediction. The Neuronal Alpha-Synuclein Disease-Integrated Staging System (NSD-ISS) provides a biological framework for staging from at-risk to advanced disease. Within this framework, gait characteristics hold promise as markers of stage transition, reflecting motor impairment. Using data from the ICICLE-GAIT study, we examined whether gait characteristics derived from an instrumented walkway and a body-worn monitor (BWM) differ across NSD-ISS stages. Participants with PD were classified as stage 3 (walkway: n = 40; BWM: n = 35) or stage 4 (walkway: n = 36; BWM: n = 28). Significant between-stage differences were observed in pace, rhythm, and variability for both systems, while postural control differed only for the walkway. These findings provide preliminary evidence that gait characteristics may differentiate NSD-ISS stages and serve as biomarkers of PD progression. Future studies should validate these results in longitudinal cohorts and real-world settings.