Smartphone Apps For Those Living With Parkinsons
If you are like most people, you are probably on your smartphone for a good portion of the day! Why not put the time spent on your devices to good use and manage your symptoms of Parkinsons disease and help elevate your lifestyle!
There is a wealth of smartphone/tablet apps that allow those who have Parkinsons Disease to help relieve them of stress, to help with certain exercises, to help with voice control and much more! There are so many apps to choose from, but here we have our top 5 smartphone apps for those living with Parkinsons disease.
Big Data Or Subtle Symptom Features
Motion sensors are common today in wearables, watches, and mobile devices for monitoring exercise or general step counts. These gross measures of movement, however, do not provide a direct measure of Parkinsons disease features such as tremor, bradykinesia, or dyskinesia, as each of those symptoms have very distinct features.
As the wearables market has recently exploded with consumer actigraphy devices and motion sensors in smart phones, the ability to quickly collect and aggregate big data has emerged, says Joseph P. Giuffrida, PhD, President and Principal Investigator. However, our decade of experience on sensor-based, quantitative assessment of Parkinsons shows its often the small things that matter. Where was the sensor positioned and what features were extracted? Was it repeatable? Having a sensor in the pocket is great if you simply want to measure movement. But if the target is to specifically measure Parkinsons symptoms and side effects, then more accurate and intelligent technology is required.
The company has over sixty publications validating Kinesia technology over a wide range of symptoms and applications . And its the small, subtle details in that significant body of clinical validation work, which allows their devices to detect timing and severity of specific Parkinsons symptoms and side effects. This can have a big impact on understanding therapeutic effects and disease progression.
An App For Staying On Schedule With Parkinsons Medications
A smartphone app helped people with Parkinsons disease to take medications on time and track symptoms, according to a recent clinical trial. The study appears in the January 9 online edition of npj Parkinsons Disease.
As PD progresses, the medication regimen for most people becomes complicated, with different PD medications taken several times a day, alongside drugs for other illnesses such as heart disease. Its very important that these medications be taken on time. It has been thought that smart phone applications that record symptoms might help people with PD to keep track of medications, while helping their doctors to better understand their symptoms.
Researchers led by Adrian Williams, M.D., at University Hospitals, Birmingham, UK, tested a smartphone app designed by uMotif Ltd., to help people with PD keep track of medications and symptoms. Its featured reminders to take medications an interface to record sleep, exercise, mood, energy and ease of movement games to gauge physical responsiveness and cognition and information about PD.
The study included 158 participants in England and Scotland who averaged 61 years of age and had lived with PD for four years. Among the participants, 68 received the app, and 90 continued their usual routines without the app. All participants visited the clinic at the beginning of the study to fill out questionnaires about aspects of their PD, and again 16 weeks later.
Results
What Does It Mean?
Reference
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How Does Alcohol Affect Parkinsons Medication
The interaction between Parkinsons medications and alcohol is a common topic on MyParkinsonsTeam. I miss my red wine and whiskey on occasion, one member wrote. I found that it just makes my meds stop working. Another member said, My husband has been told he shouldn’t drink with his meds.
Alcohol can exacerbate the side effects of one of the most common Parkinsons medications, levodopa/carbidopa. Many neurologists recommend avoiding alcohol while taking this drug.
I have to limit myself to one Scotch on the rocks now, a MyParkinsonsTeam member said. I used to have three or four, but the side effects are too bad. Another wrote, Never really a good idea to mix alcohol with meds.
Whether you decide to continue your current drinking habits, cut down, or eliminate alcohol altogether, its important to listen to your body and have open conversations about these topics with your neurologist.
If you find yourself drinking alcohol to cope with other issues, such as depression and anxiety, you may find that healthy practices such as physical activity can help. In addition, participating in activities such as tai chi, yoga, and meditation may help ease the symptoms and complications of PD.
Health App Simple And Easy To Use
Our app allows those who have been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease to keep their condition in check. As the application has a simple interface, it is easy to use, regardless of ones age or knowledge of health apps. Patients can tailor the application to their specific needs and take advantage of its various features, such as the self-care plan, health diary, and symptom tracker.
You can use CareClinic to get a better understanding of your treatment plan and ensure that necessary medication adherence. As you will be given constant reminders to take your pills, you will find it easier to stick to treatment and avoid the off periods, which might make your manifestations worse. The health app is essential for the effective management of your treatment plan, and also for keeping your symptoms under control.
If you are looking for additional features, keep in mind that you can add information about your current diet and make sure you are eating only nutritious, healthy meals. You can also add exercise goals, information on levels of physical activity and even keep a sleep diary. With this health app, you will find it easier to manage every aspect related to your life with Parkinsons disease.
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Scoop: Apple Is Working On A Diagnostic App For Parkinson’s Disease
Apple is working closely with the FDA to develop an FDA-regulated app for diagnosing Parkinsons disease, MobiHealthNews has learned. The insight comes from a batch of emails MobiHealthNews obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request to the FDA.
The tech giant held a meeting about Parkinson’s at its headquarters in Cupertino in September 2015 attended by a number of neurologists and Parkinsons experts, as well as Bakul Patel, Associate Director of Digital Health at the FDA and another unnamed FDA representative. Divya Nag, a special projects lead at Apple, organized the meeting, telling Patel in an email that the plan was to discuss early results from the ResearchKit PD app and ideate on steps moving forward for the app.
Were thinking of breaking the meeting up into two sections, one to discuss the telehealth/remote monitoring use case for Parkinsons and the second to discuss the diagnostic app, Nag wrote in an email to Patel on September 2, 2015. On the telehealth side wed love for you to lead a discussion around whether you think there are any FDA considerations to understand before implementing. We dont believe there will be, but always good to double check!
That Jeff likely refers to Jeffrey Shuren, Director of the Center for Radiological Devices at the FDA.
This aligns with comments Bud Tribble, Vice President of Software Technology at Apple, made to MobiHealthNews in an interview last fall.
Parkinsons Disease And Alcohol: Your Guide
If you have Parkinsons disease , you may be wondering whether alcohol consumption affects the development or progression of your condition. Some people may wonder if they should avoid drinking completely. As one MyParkinsonsTeam member asked, How does alcohol affect Parkinsons how much can I drink? Or should I avoid drinking altogether?
Some studies havent found that small amounts of alcohol are associated with a higher PD risk, while others highlight the dangers alcohol can pose for anyone with a chronic condition. In addition, there may be adverse interactions between alcohol and common Parkinsons medications. Because of conflicting information, people with PD may feel confused about whether or not to drink.
Ive been told by more than one doctor that I should not have any alcohol, one MyParkinsonsTeam member wrote. And at this point, I dont remember which doctor or specifically why.
So, how do you decide what approach to take?
If you have Parkinsons disease and are trying to decide whether or not to reduce your drinking or quit alcohol completely here are some things to consider.
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New App To Monitor Parkinsons Progression At Home
18 December 2020
A new smartphone app developed by researchers at UCL and Birkbeck, University of London, is enabling doctors to remotely monitor their patients progression of Parkinsons symptoms, as reported in a new clinical trial.
The findings, published in npj Parkinsons Disease, show that the app can provide clinicians with a more complete picture of a persons condition than they can get from a typically brief medical check-up.
Lead researcher Dr Ashwani Jha said: Parkinsons disease is highly variable, as it can progress at very different rates in different people, who will not all experience the same symptoms. For that reason, people with the condition need regular check-ups, often about twice a year, so that doctors can monitor the progression of their symptoms and update their treatment plan.
One challenge of these regular check-ups is that symptoms can vary day-to-day, and even throughout the day, so getting a snapshot when a person visits the clinic will not always give the full picture of their condition.
Using an app to track symptoms from home, with multiple readings over a longer period of time, could more effectively capture fluctuations in symptoms.
Assessing physical symptoms has been particularly challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic monitoring patients remotely could enable high-quality care while maintaining social distancing.
Resources For Managing Parkinsons Disease
Upon being diagnosed with a chronic and progressive condition, such as Parkinsons disease, you will have to adjust to a new life. Suddenly, you will have a complex treatment plan to follow and you will have to pay attention to your every symptom. Moreover, you will have difficulties keeping track of everything, as the condition can lead to memory problems.
You can rely on CareClinic as the app for tracking Parkinsons disease. It will help you adhere to your medication plan and other treatments, thus maintaining the best possible state of health.
The smartphone health app is meant to help one live a good quality of life and find the motivation to go on. Constantly developed in accordance with the feedback provided by those who suffer from this condition, the application serves as a practical tool for everyday life.
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Apps Designed For Parkinsons
Some apps are designed specifically for people with Parkinsons. The Parkinson mPower study app measures tremors, gait, and balance, while Parkinson Home Exercises offers home exercises and movement advice. Learning to interact with these and similar apps can help you combat symptoms of Parkinsons such as muscle stiffness.
Living in the era of technology has its perks. Information travels more quickly than ever before, allowing for a global exchange of information. Competition is driving technological progress to an all-time high. Parkinsons can be difficult to navigate, but different smartphone functions and apps could simplify your life.
Note: Parkinsons News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinsons News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinsons disease.
The Challenges Of Parkinson’s & How Kiziks Help
Sometimes Parkinsons disease can complicate the basic daily activities a person living with Parkinsons once did easily, like bathing, dressing, eating, sleeping and even walking. Tremors, rigidity, and unbalance that often come with Parkinson’s can feel like a setback to a “normal” life. The truth is that the management of these symptoms is no simple task, that’s why we want to help remove one of the challenges they present.
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Sensitive Data Or Patient Compliance
A final, but important piece of the Parkinsons assessment puzzle, surrounds the tradeoff of sensitivity of data versus user compliance. Higher sensitivity of data often leads to more accurate results of assessing Parkinsons symptoms, but may come at the cost of patient compliance. Imagine a system that used 100 motion sensors all over the body, it would likely have greater ability to accurately detect symptoms than using a single sensor on a smart phone in someones pocket, says Dr. Giuffrida. However, the likelihood of a patient complying with putting on 100 sensors everyday is incredibly low. Therefore, having a strategically located suite of sensors in convenient, wearable, cosmetically acceptable devices that minimally impacts patients time or daily routine, but provides sensitive data to detect Parkinsons symptoms is what we have produced in Kinesia 360.
GLNT has conducted several research studies that instrumented large numbers of sensors on individuals with Parkinsons to determine the minimum number of sensors necessary to accurately assess symptoms. As a result of that research, Kinesia 360 utilizes two sensors, one worn on the wrist and one worn on the ankle throughout the day.
Why Is Measuring Parkinsons Disease So Challenging
Parkinsons disease impacts quality of life for millions of people around the world. Some of the most common motor symptoms include tremor, slowed movements, stiffness, episodes of freezing, and gait abnormalities. And if thats not enough, therapies used to control those motor symptoms can often cause the side effect of wild, irregular movements called dyskinesias, which can have a major impact on quality of life and activities of daily living.
Measuring these symptoms and side effects, which often fluctuate during the day, is critical both for optimizing patient care protocols and for clinical trials determining the efficacy of new therapies, says Christopher Pulliam, PhD, Product Manager. Developing technology, such as Kinesia 360, to accurately and remotely measure Parkinsons symptoms is extremely challenging. Was an individual typing on a keyboard or did he have tremor? Was she folding the laundry or was it the side effect of dyskinesia?
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How Does Alcohol Affect Parkinsons Symptoms
In general, alcohol can be harmful to people with chronic conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , overconsuming alcohol can be a long-term risk factor for a weakened immune system, learning and memory problems, high blood pressure, digestive issues, and various types of cancer. When looking specifically at Parkinsons symptoms, however, reports differ on how alcohol and PD may be linked.
The type of alcoholic beverage consumed may affect whether drinking has an impact on PD. A 2013 study found that the risk for developing Parkinson’s disease appeared to increase depending on the amount of liquor consumed, although no link was conclusively found between drinking wine and the development of PD.
In terms of how long-term alcohol use affects the risk of PD, one study published in 2013 followed people who had been admitted to the hospital with alcohol use disorders for up to 37 years. The study authors found that a history of alcohol abuse increased the risk of admission into the hospital for Parkinsons for both men and women. The study authors suggested that chronically drinking too much alcohol can have neurotoxic effects on dopamine, the neurotransmitter in the brain that is relevant to Parkinson’s disease.
There may also be factors other than observable symptoms such as how alcohol interacts with your medication that are important to consider when making decisions about your lifestyle and drinking habits.
Using Existing Smartphone Componentsincluding The Microphone Touch Screen And Accelerometerapp Gathers Valuable Diagnostic Data In A Non
Image caption: Johns Hopkins computer science students Srihari Mohan, left, and Andong Zahn display the iPhone and Android smartphone apps they helped design to allow Parkinsons disease patients to measure the severity of their own symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease, a progressive brain disorder, is often tough to treat effectively because its symptomssuch as tremors and walking difficultiescan vary dramatically over a period of days, or even hours.
To address this challenge, Johns Hopkins University computer scientists, working with an interdisciplinary team of experts from two other institutions, have developed a new approach that uses smartphone sensors to generate a score that reliably reflects symptom severity in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
In a study published recently online in the journal JAMA Neurology, researchers from Johns Hopkins, the University of Rochester Medical Center, and Aston University in the U.K. reported that the severity of symptoms among Parkinson’s patients seen by neurologists aligned closely with those generated by their smartphone app.
In the new study, the researchers say patients could use a smartphone app to objectively monitor symptoms in their home and share this data to help doctors fine-tune their treatment.
E. Ray Dorsey, a University of Rochester Medical Center neurologist and a co-author of the research paper, said he welcomes the validation of Parkinson’s patient severity scores produced by the smartphone tests.
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What Causes Parkinsons Disease
The manifestations of Parkinsons disease are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, with the dopamine metabolism being affected and leading to abnormal movements. However, the exact cause behind this pathological change has yet to be found.
In rare cases, Parkinsons disease is an inherited condition, the defective gene is transmitted from parents to children. In recent years, it has been proposed that environmental factors play a significant role, with pesticides and air pollution being often incriminated. Antipsychotic medication and additional conditions and lead to this condition as well.
How is the condition managed?
The standard treatment for Parkinsons disease is constituted of medication. This is meant to restore the healthy balance of the chemicals in the brain but one must be carefully monitored, as there is a significant risk of side-effects. The earlier the treatment is started, the better the prognosis is going to be.
A common drug recommended for symptom management is Levodopa, which is a precursor of dopamine. The regular administration improves the quality of movement, reducing stiffness and weakness. There are drugs in which Levodopa is combined with Carbidopa, which guarantees less severe/frequent side-effects.