I am sure that many of you will run across this information today. Apparently, researchers have determined a more scientific means of measuring disease severity. Certain aspects of our speech closely correlate to assessment on the UPDRS, and it seems pretty accurate. From the abstract on Interface

We apply a wide range of known speech signal processing algorithms to a large database (approx. 6000 recordings from 42 PD patients, recruited to a six-month, multi-centre trial) and propose a number of novel, nonlinear signal processing algorithms which reveal pathological characteristics in PD more accurately than existing approaches.

Interested to see the results....

Laura

Thanks Laura for this information.

It is interesting but still just another measurement device to see how quickly/slowly we are deteriorating. In other pathologies, such as cancer or heart disease, such measurements have a purpose in that they prompt more or less aggressive treatment. With PWP, our treatments are usually added to or decreased as a result of our subjective response to questions from the neurologists. This study maps our progress into the depths of PD, and, while scholarly and thorough, does nothing to help us with our disease. It might be have been more productive to put the money necessary for this study into finding treatments that work.

Ann

Ann, while you are right that it does not help us with our disease directly , the new measurement scale might be usefull in measuring the benefits of a treatment with more accuracy, and eliminate the placebo effect. IMHO

TG

Ann,

I so appreciate what you are saying but honestly I don't think it is lack of funding that holds back novel treatments or better treatments. It is t he FDA and a system that does not reward innovation. I would argue that even something as crude as the Duodopa pump system, while not as seductive as a viral vector treatment, is an advance that is light years beyond what we have now. It has been used successfully in other countries for over ten years, yet still the FDA subjects it to a ridiculous standard of some sort. Whatever happened to fastracking or the notion that while the powers that be sit back to watch Solvay jump through rather ridiculous hoops for approval here. Meanwhile, people here continue to suffer.

I think that finding more scientific ways to diagnose, establish baseline disease staging or severity, and a way to monitor progression in a very non-invasive way is key to seeing that novel new treatments make it our way. Imagine how frustrating it must be to develop a new drug then realize that there is no real way to know the efficacy of that drug on slowing disease progression when you have nothing more than a subjective paper and pencil rating scale to go on; think of how inspiring that must sound to potential investors. If we cannot even be sure that all trial participants even have PD in the first place, how can we ever get reliable, valid results in research? I am pretty certain that the lack of scientific measure hurts us in ways we don't even yet know.

And TG, yes, the Placebo Effect! I hadn't thought of that but this is another problem we face in the development of new treatments. The Placebo effect so prevalent in PD also must have an impact on funding trials for newer treatments, and I don't think it is a positive one.

Laura

I think that finding more scientific ways to diagnose, establish baseline disease staging or severity, and a way to monitor progression in a very non-invasive way is key to seeing that novel new treatments make it our way.

And TG, yes, the Placebo Effect! I hadn't thought of that but this is another problem we face in the development of new treatments. The Placebo effect so prevalent in PD also must have an impact on funding trials for newer treatments, and I don't think it is a positive one.

Laura[/QUOTE]

HOORAY for the placebo effect and knowing thatt the PD condition responds to it gives us a compass. maybe the newer trials should include it rather than dismiss lest thhey skew their own science

interesting post Laura on voice analysis

md

HOORAY for the placebo effect and knowing thatt the PD condition responds to it gives us a compass. maybe the newer trials should include it rather than dismiss lest thhey skew their own science

interesting post Laura on voice analysis

md[/QUOTE]

In my opinion and not humble, the placebo effect is a cruel joke and becomes less effective the more you expose yourself to it. Yes it works especially for those desperate to find relief....but for how long and at what expense. Sham surgeries in research trials should be banned. Monitor the trials for an extra year, natural outcomes will surface with more accuracy.

TG