Axial Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: from Pathophysiology to Management

Axial symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, such as freezing of gait, postural instability, trunk posture alterations, and dysarthrophonia, have a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Moreover, these symptoms are poorly responsive to dopaminergic drugs and surgical therapies. Still, the understanding of their physiopathologic underpinnings and reciprocal interconnection is lacking, along with validated methods for the objective and quantitative measurement in clinical practice. Of importance, a systematic review of the literature on treatment modalities of these symptoms would be necessary for indicating the best clinical management, as well as novel therapeutic approaches based on new drugs, rehabilitation, technology-based assistance, or alternative electrical stimulation modalities.

For this Research Topic, we are interested in new perspectives, original research, and systematic reviews or meta-analysis, which provide new insight on any aspects of axial symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. In particular, we will take into consideration studies reporting discoveries on pathophysiology, progression, impact on patients’ functionality, as well as novel therapeutic approaches for axial symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. We are also interested in systematic reviews providing evidence for the best clinical management of these symptoms.