Cardiovascular Autonomic Control in the Early Stage of Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease affects not only motor control system but it is often accompanied by non-motor symptoms, including signs of autonomic control impairment. The study was aimed to detect cardiovascular control impairment in the early stage of Parkinson disease employing wide array of measures characterizing parasympathetic and sympathetic control of heart and vessels and their response to orthostatic and cognitive load. We found only subtle alterations in sympathetic control of heart (inotropy) and vessels (vascular response to orthostasis) pointing towards a dominance of motor symptoms in the early stage of Parkinson disease.