NeuroPostureApp

NeuroPostureApp measures postural alignment in Parkinson's disease patients to quantify total camptocormia (TCC), upper camptocormia (UCC), and Pisa angles and to evaluate effects of l-dopa and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Key Features:

• Measurement Metrics: Computes total camptocormia (TCC), upper camptocormia (UCC), and Pisa angles to quantify forward and lateral bending.
• Subgroup Analysis: Categorizes patients into normal posture, stooped posture, and postural disorders using normative values from healthy controls and clinical criteria.
• Treatment Impact Assessment: Quantifies changes in postural alignment induced by l-dopa and subthalamic nucleus DBS, including reductions in diagnostic-angle thresholds for camptocormia.
• Gender Effects: Reports comparable treatment-related improvements in postural alignment for female and male patients.
• Longitudinal DBS Effects: Detects additional improvements in the Pisa angle over time following DBS (assessments up to 6–24 months post-surgery).

Scientific Applications:

• Treatment Evaluation: Assess immediate and long-term effects of l-dopa and STN-DBS on postural alignment in advanced-stage Parkinson's disease.
• Phenotype Differentiation: Distinguish pathological mechanisms underlying stooped posture, camptocormia, and Pisa syndrome using TCC, UCC, and Pisa angle measurements.
• Clinical and Research Assessment: Provide quantitative outcome measures for studies and clinical evaluations of postural disorders in Parkinson's disease.

Methodology:

Analysis of videotaped standardized l-dopa trials to measure TCC, UCC, and Pisa angles, classification into posture subgroups using normative control values and clinical criteria, and comparison across medication (on/off) and surgical (pre/post DBS at 6–24 months) states.