8 years of my side to side tap test results

[johntPM]

Update on my Parkinson's progression. The graph shows data from 8 - 16 years post-diagnosis with IPD.

The data comes from the side to side tap test, run on a laptop keyboard. See my app:

parkinsonsmeasurement.org/t...

Details of the test

Start by using just the index finger of your left hand, you alternately type, q followed by p. You do this for 30 seconds. And then you do the same thing with your right hand. The test gives two results: a left hand and a right hand score. A high score is good.

The test was taken about once every two weeks. To no particular schedule. (This opens up the possibility of test bias.)

In order to be consistent the test was taken immediately after I got up in the morning and before my first dose of PD medication of the day. To reduce the impact of medication taken in the previous day, the data used includes only that which was collected at least 12 hours after my last dose. It is a proxy measure of my "off" state.

Discussion

For the first 6 years the results show a slow improvement. I put this down to a training effect. This has two components: that which is localised to this test, indicating no QOL improvement; that which is applicable to motor skills in general, suggesting that some of the improvement is "real".

In the last two years there has probably been a decline.