UPDRS - Objectivity
 

"They" aka. what ever google returns on my searches mentions objectivity in the UPDRS, what parts of it are objective?

Robert

You may have been asking this question facetiously, but I am going to assume you are serious.
Here is a copy of the UPDRS (United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale)
http://www.mdvu.org/library/ratingscales/pd/updrs.pdf

The Motor Skills might be the only "objective" portion of the test because you tap your fingers a certain number of times before assigning a numerical value. But even within that area of testing are questions such as:
"Facial expression"
0= Normal
1= Minimal hypomimia, could be normal "Poker Face"
3= Slight but definitelly abnormal diminutioon of facial aaexpressioon
3=Moderate hymimia; lips parted some of the time
4= Masked or fixed facies with severe or complete loss of facial expression; lips parted 1/4 inch or more.

So in reality, most of the testing that screens a person into a study, or measures their digression or improvement is . . . at best . . . subjective. And what is worse - this is how we are diagnosed!

Soo I think until we have a REAL test (blood test, x-ray, MRI, etc), then our PD diagnosis is highly subjective.
Peggy

My question was both facetious and serious. :) That's what I was looking for. Thanks Peggy!