Health-related quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2018Motor impairment, cognitive decline and speech disruption are prevalent consequences of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and have been shown to impact quality of life. However, the relative influence of each of these domains on quality of life is unknown. This study is designed to assess the determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with PD. Metrics examined participant’s cognitive, motor and speech impairment, as well as their perception of how the deficits impacted their HRQoL. Results revealed meaningful, significant predictive relationships when considering severity of motor symptoms, and communication participation. Overall, these results indicate a combination of speech and motor deficits may be the best predictor of overall quality of life