Assistive technologies’ caring and healing touch can revolutionize the Parkinson’s patient experience.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and can cause tremors, rigidity, and difficulty with coordination and balance. There are numerous challenges and opportunities that technology can fill the gap.
For example, as pointed out in this review paper, currently, Parkinson’s disease lacks established and dependable markers for diagnosis or progression tracking, relying instead on clinical observations for definition. The paper focuses on technology-based objective measures (TOMs).
“Traditionally, clinical scales and traditional patient-reported outcomes are employed for assessment in clinical practice and PD-related research. Nevertheless, TOMs can improve the accuracy, sensitivity, reproducibility, and practicality of capturing a broad spectrum of changes in motor and non-motor behaviors linked to PD.”
As pointed out in the review, “technology-based objective measures can tackle challenges like assessing fluctuating events, capturing rare incidents like falls or freezing of gait, and evaluating behaviors that unfold over extended periods outside clinical settings, such as everyday physical activities.”
Researchers have noted that, despite numerous ongoing efforts in industry and academic settings, identifying initiatives with the potential for scalability and determining effective deployment strategies remains a significant challenge.
Challenges include “non-compatible technology platforms, the need for wide-scale and long-term deployment of sensor technology, and the gap between the big data acquired with sensitive measurement technologies and their limited clinical application.”
I wrote this article because the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has doubled in the past 25 years, as informed by WHO. According to the CDC, “Approximately 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD, but given that many individuals go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed, the actual number is likely much higher. Some experts estimate that as many as 1 million Americans have PD.”
Digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies are my technological research areas, as I am passionate about creating awareness and contributing to the body of knowledge. These platforms and tools can economically revolutionize the struggling healthcare industry and lower suffering.
Regrettably, there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Nonetheless, early detection and treatment can effectively manage symptoms, enhancing patients’ overall quality of life. This is where technology comes into play, and it’s why I aim to raise awareness in this post under four sections.
Here is the full story on Medium.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
10 Emerging Technologies to Change Our Lives and Global Economy Starting in 2030
While certain technologies may not become fully realized during my lifetime, these ten technologies are poised to…medium.com
To inform my new readers, I wrote numerous articles that might inform and inspire you. My topics include brain and cognitive function, significant health conditions, valuable nutrients, ketogenic lifestyle, self-healing, weight management, writing/reading, and humor. 100+ Insightful Life Lessons from My Circles for the Last 50+ Years
10 Ignored and Tiny Habits Made a Big Impact on My Health and Happiness
In isolation, these minuscule activities may appear insignificant, yet together, they became the bedrock of my…medium.com
I publish my health and wellness stories on EUPHORIA. My posts do not include professional or health advice. I only document my reviews, observations, experiences, and perspectives to provide information and create awareness. Be Your Own Therapist in 10 Steps.
To get my post in your inbox, you may subscribe to my content. If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 24K+ writers who contribute to my publications on this platform. I also have another profile to write and curate tech stories.
Leave a Reply