AUTHOR=Zhou Zhou , Zhou Xiaoxia , Xiang Yaqin , Zhao Yuwen , Pan Hongxu , Wu Juan , Xu Qian , Chen Yase , Sun Qiying , Wu Xinyin , Zhu Jianping , Wu Xuehong , Li Jianhua , Yan Xinxiang , Guo Jifeng , Tang Beisha , Lei Lifang , Liu Zhenhua TITLE=Subtyping of early-onset Parkinson’s disease using cluster analysis: A large cohort study JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience VOLUME=14 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2022.1040293 DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2022.1040293 ISSN=1663-4365 ABSTRACT=Background

Increasing evidence suggests that early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD) is heterogeneous in its clinical presentation and progression. Defining subtypes of EOPD is needed to better understand underlying mechanisms, predict disease course, and eventually design more efficient personalized management strategies.

Objective

To identify clinical subtypes of EOPD, assess the clinical characteristics of each EOPD subtype, and compare the progression between EOPD subtypes.

Materials and methods

A total of 1,217 patients were enrolled from a large EOPD cohort of the Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders Multicenter Database and Collaborative Network in China (PD-MDCNC) between January 2017 and September 2021. A comprehensive spectrum of motor and non-motor features were assessed at baseline. Cluster analysis was performed using data on demographics, motor symptoms and signs, and other non-motor manifestations. In 454 out of total patients were reassessed after a mean follow-up time of 1.5 years to compare progression between different subtypes.

Results

Three subtypes were defined: mild motor and non-motor dysfunction/slow progression, intermediate and severe motor and non-motor dysfunction/malignant. Compared to patients with mild subtype, patients with the severe subtype were more likely to have rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, wearing-off, and dyskinesia, after adjusting for age and disease duration at baseline, and showed a more rapid progression in Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) total score (P = 0.002), UPDRS part II (P = 0.014), and III (P = 0.001) scores, Hoehn and Yahr stage (P = 0.001), and Parkinson’s disease questionnaire-39 item version score (P = 0.012) at prospective follow-up.

Conclusion

We identified three different clinical subtypes (mild, intermediate, and severe) using cluster analysis in a large EOPD cohort for the first time, which is important for tailoring therapy to individuals with EOPD.