Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects both men and women with documented gender differences across functional domains, with findings varying among reports. Knowledge regarding gender differences in PD for different geographic locations is important for further understanding of the disease and for developing personalized gender-specific PD assessment tools and therapies. Objective This study aimed to examine gender differences in PD-related motor, motor-cognitive, cognitive, and psychosocial function in people with PD from the southern United States (US). Methods 199 (127 men and 72 women; M age: 69.08±8.94) individuals with mild-moderate idiopathic PD (Hoehn &Yahr (H&Y) Median = 2, stages I-III) from a large metro area in the southeastern US were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. Motor, motor-cognitive, cognitive, and psychosocial data were obtained using standardized and validated clinical tests. Univariate analyses were performed, adjusting for age and housing type. Results After adjustment for age, housing, PD duration and fall rate, men exhibited statistically significantly greater motor (Movement Disorders Society (MDS)-Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-II) and non-motor (MDS-UPDRS-I) impact of PD, and more severe motor signs (MDS-UPDRS-III). Men exhibited worse PD-specific health-related quality of life related to mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, cognitive impairment, communication, and more depressive symptoms. Men performed worse on a subtraction working memory task. Women had slower fast gait speed. Conclusions In the southeastern United States, men may experience worse PD-related quality of life and more depression than women. Many non-motor and motor variables that are not PD specific show no differences between genders in this cohort. These findings can contribute to the development of gender-sensitive assessment and rehabilitation policies and protocols for people with PD.

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) has no available treatment to slow disease progression and generally resists drug therapy. CBD has symptoms and decreased quality of life similar to Parkinson's disease. Adapted Tango, a successful rehabilitation for Parkinson's, may address CBD. A 63-year-old African-American male with CBD (alias: YD; CBD duration=2 years) was evaluated for motor, cognitive and psychosocial function before, immediately after, one-month after and six-months after 12 weeks of 20, bi-weekly 90-minute AT lessons. After intervention, disease-related motor symptoms improved and YD reported fewer problems in non-motor experiences of daily living, which include mood, cognition, pain, fatigue, etc. Motor symptoms remained above baseline at six-month posttest. YD's balance confidence improved postintervention, but declined below baseline at six-month posttest. Quality of life was maintained despite worsened depression. YD improved or maintained executive function, and visuospatial function and attention at posttest and one-month posttest. At posttest, YD maintained mobility and improved on dynamic balance. At one-month posttest, most mobility measures had improved relative to baseline. Yet, YD showed executive function and overall motor decline six months postintervention. AT may have temporarily slowed disease progression, and improved or maintained mobility and cognition. Gains were poorly maintained after six months. Further study is warranted.

Background Falling among older adults is common and can cause chronic health complications. This study investigated differences between White and Black community-dwelling older adults in fall history, fear of falling, and indicators of fall risk.Methods All assessments and analyses were conducted in a clinical laboratory at Emory University in the Department of General Medicine and Geriatrics on 84 diverse community-dwelling older adults (White, n=37; Black, n=47). Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA for continuous variables, the Fisher exact test for categorical variables, the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test for ordinal variables, and an ordinal logistic regression model to examine which factors predicted fear of falling. Measures included fall history, fear of falling, and fall risk indicators. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Score, Gait Speed, Short Form 12 Physical Component Score and Mental Component Score, fear of falling and quality of life rating scales and demographics questionnaires were administered.Results Falls history was not significantly different between groups. Black participants had significantly fewer years of education (p=.007), lower MoCA scores (p=0.002), and slower fast gait speed (p=0.032) than White participants. However, Black participants reported significantly less fear of falling (p=0.043). Race (Black/White) (p=<0.001), sex (p=0.028), preferred gait speed (p=0.036), and a dichotomous variable of use of assistive device for walking (p=0.023) were significant predictors of fear of falling in the logistical model.Conclusions These factors may explain the observed differences in fear of falling observed between white and black groups in this study. This work offers an explanation of possible factors related to the well-documented yet poorly understood fact that while Black older adults have more risk factors for falling, White older adults tend to fall more frequently and are more afraid of falling.