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Gender differences in non-motor symptoms in early, drug naïve Parkinson’s disease

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Abstract

Gender differences in brain structure and function may lead to differences in the clinical expression of neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Few studies reported gender-related differences in the burden of non-motor symptoms (NMS) in treated PD patients, but this matter has not been previously explored in drug-naïve PD patients. This study is to assess gender differences in the prevalence of NMS in a large sample of early, drug-naïve PD patients compared with age and sex-matched healthy controls. Two hundred early, drug-naïve PD patients and ninety-three age and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Frequency of NMS was evaluated by means of the Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire. The difference in gender distribution of NMS was evaluated with the χ 2 exact test; multiple comparisons were corrected with the Benjamini–Hochberg method. Male PD patients complained of problems having sex and taste/smelling difficulties significantly more frequently than female PD patients. Furthermore, men with PD complained more frequently of dribbling, sadness/blues, loss of interest, anxiety, acting during dreams, and taste/smelling difficulties as compared to healthy control men, while female PD patients reported more frequently loss of interest and anxiety as compared with healthy control women. This study shows specific sex-related patterns of NMS in drug-naïve PD. In contrast with previous data, female PD patients did not present higher prevalence of mood symptoms as compared to male PD patients. Comparison with healthy controls showed that some NMS classically present in premotor and early stage of disease (i.e., acting out during dreams, taste/smelling difficulties) are more frequent in male than in female patients.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the University of Salerno, FARB 2012 (ORSA127397).

Conflicts of interest

Dr. Marina Picillo, Dr. Roberto Erro, Dr. Marcello Moccia, Dr. Anna De Rosa, Prof Giuseppe De Michele, Prof Lucio Santoro, and Prof Giuseppe Orefice have received salary from the Department of Neurological Sciences-University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy. Dr. Marianna Amboni has received honoraria for symposia from Boehringer Ingelheim, Lundbeck, and Novartis. She has received salary from IDC “Hermitage-Capodimonte” and the Department of Neurological Sciences-University of Naples, Italy. Dr. Katia Longo has received salary from IDC Hermitage-Capodimonte and the Department of Neurological Sciences-University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy. Dr. Carmine Vitale has received honoraria for symposia from Boehringer Ingelheim, Lundbeck, Novartis, and Schwarz Pharma/UCB. He has received salary from IDC Hermitage-Capodimonte and the University of Naples “Parthenope”, Italy. Dr. Gabriella Santangelo has received salary from Second University of Naples. Dr. Angela Pierro has no financial discosures. Dr. Maria Teresa Pellecchia has received honoraria for symposia from Boehringer Ingelheim, Lundbeck, and Novartis. She has received salary from the University of Salerno, Italy. Prof Paolo Barone has received honoraria as a Consultant & Advisory Board Memberships for Novartis, Schwarz Pharma/UCB, Merck-Serono, Eisai, Solvay, General Electric and Lundbeck. He has received research support from Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Schwarz Pharma/UCB, Merck-Serono, Solvay, and Lundbeck. He has received salary from the University of Salerno, Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy

    Marina Picillo, Roberto Erro, Marcello Moccia, Anna De Rosa, Giuseppe De Michele, Lucio Santoro & Giuseppe Orefice

  2. IDC Hermitage-Capodimonte, Naples, Italy

    Marianna Amboni, Katia Longo & Carmine Vitale

  3. University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy

    Carmine Vitale

  4. Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy

    Angela Pierro, Paolo Barone & Maria Teresa Pellecchia

  5. Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy

    Gabriella Santangelo

Authors
  1. Marina Picillo
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  2. Marianna Amboni
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  3. Roberto Erro
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  4. Katia Longo
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  5. Carmine Vitale
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  6. Marcello Moccia
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  7. Angela Pierro
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  8. Gabriella Santangelo
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  9. Anna De Rosa
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  10. Giuseppe De Michele
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  11. Lucio Santoro
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  12. Giuseppe Orefice
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  13. Paolo Barone
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  14. Maria Teresa Pellecchia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paolo Barone.

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Picillo, M., Amboni, M., Erro, R. et al. Gender differences in non-motor symptoms in early, drug naïve Parkinson’s disease. J Neurol 260, 2849–2855 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-013-7085-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-013-7085-x

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