Neurodegenerative Diseases Progression Markers (MARKERS-NDD): a Real-world Data Longitudinal Prospective Study

Considering the current estimates and the global social and economic burden of neurodegenerative diseases, changes in the manner and timing of a diagnosis of these diseases are urgently needed as well as in the timeliness with which effective therapeutic interventions are carried out. The complexity of the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal degeneration and the heterogeneity of the population of patients affected by neurodegenerative diseases present enormous challenges to the development of early diagnostic tools and systems capable of predicting the course of the disease.

Despite intensive research in the field of pharmacology, surgery and rehabilitation, neurodegenerative diseases remain chronic progressive diseases without a therapy that can change the course.

MARKERS-NDD is a prospective, observational, longitudinal study, which aims to collect data from patients affected by neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) followed longitudinally for routine examinations performed as part of normal clinical practice. Data collected from clinical evaluations, movement analysis, brain imaging, neuropsychological and electroencephalographic assessments, blood chemistry tests will be analysed to carry out statistical investigations and predictive analyses, also using artificial intelligence systems, which allow the identification of new early markers of diagnosis and prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Quantitative movement analysis, with the aid of standard motion capture systems (gait analysis) and with wearable inertial sensors, is a valid tool both for supporting clinical diagnostics and to assess the response to pharmacological treatment, and to monitor the progression of NDDs. From this perspective, the kinematic analysis of gait and graphic gesture can reveal early alterations of motor features to support the differential diagnosis and stratification of the patient and allow us to follow the progression of the disease over time.

Although motor symptoms represent key aspects for differential diagnosis between parkinsonian syndrome and dementia, alterations of cognitive functions, and in particular, of executive functions can be also present in the early stages of the disease in patients with synucleinopathies such as PD and Lewy Body Dementia.