Movement Disorder Society Unified
Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale
(MDS-UPDRS)
The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating
Scale (UPDRS) was developed in
the 1980s and has become the most
widely used clinical rating scale for
Parkinson’s disease. A Movement
Disorder Society (MDS) sponsored
critique in 2001 expanded and revised
the scale. The MDS-UPDRS scale is
comprised of four key components: I:
Non-motor Experiences of Daily Living;
II: Motor Experiences of Daily Living;
III: Motor Examination; and IV: Motor
Complications. 1
MDS-UPDRS PART II
Section II of the MDS-UPDRS evaluates
the “Motor experiences of daily living.”
This includes activities such as eating,
sleeping and writing. Section II is
comprised of 13 questions and is self-
administered by participants, with or
without the aid of the caregiver but
independently of the investigator. 2
Modified Schwab & England
Activities of Daily Living Scale
The Modified Schwab & England
Activities of Daily Living scale assesses an
individual’s ability to function in activities
of daily living. The scale ranges from
zero to one hundred percent, with one
hundred percent indicating a completely
independent individual. 3 This assessment
is typically conducted as part of a larger
exam, such as the MDS-UPDRS.
The Montreal Cognitive
Assessment (MoCA) Exam
The MoCA exam is a rapid screening
instrument for mild cognitive
dysfunction. It assesses attention,
planning and memory skills. The total
possible score is 30 points with a score of
26 or higher indicating no dysfunction.
Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s
Disease – Autonomic Dysfunction
(SCOPA-AUT) Exam
The SCOPA-AUT exam assesses
autonomic symptoms in patients
with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The
questionnaire consists of 25 items
assessing the following regions:
gastrointestinal, urinary, cardiovascular,
thermoregulatory, pupillomotor and
sexual dysfunction. 4
Steering Committee
Is a group of experts (such as clinical
trial investigators, patient advisory
groups and sponsor representatives)
appointed by a study sponsor to provide
overall supervision of a trial and ensure
it is being conducted in accordance with
the principles of Good Clinical Practice
and the relevant regulations. 5
University of Pennsylvania Smell
Identification Test (UPSIT) Exam
The UPSIT exam assesses an individual’s
loss of smell. The test is comprised of
forty microencapsulated odorants, which
are released by scratching standardized
odor-impregnated test booklets. The
UPSIT is sensitive to age, gender,
smoking habits, and a wide variety of
olfactory disorders. 6
https://www.movementdisorders.org/MDS-Files1/PDFs/Rating-Scales/MDS-UPDRS_Vol23_Issue15_2008.pdf
https://www.sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/movement-disorder-society-sponsored-unified-parkinsons-disease-rating-0
3
http://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/For+Professionals/For+Professionals/Tools+for+Practice/Assessment+tools/
Schwab+_+England+Activities+of+Daily+Living+Scale+(Parkinson_s+Disease).aspx
4
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15390007
5
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/regulatoryinformation/guidances/ucm127073.pdf
6
http://theotorhinolaryngologist.co.uk/new/images/pdf/v6_n2/upsit.pdf
1
2
Glossary
43