Energy expenditure is increased in order to maintain setting up posture in early Parkinson disease

What is it about?

It has been observed that people with Parkinson's Disease have a tendency to become underweight and gradually loose muscle mass at early stages of disease when symptoms are still subtle. This study aimed to evaluate the metabolic energy expenditure during rest and other body positions in people with early stages of Parkinson's Disease. We found that the basal metabolic energy expenditure in those affected with Parkinsonism was similar to matched control individuals without Parkinsonisn with similar body compositions. However, when posture was not supported at rest and during performance of exercise at various intensities, we observed increased energy expenditure in people affected with Parkinsonism compared with unaffected matched controls.

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Why is it important?

In this well controlled study we show that basal energy expenditure is not increased in Parkinson's disease, thus arguing against any primary alteration in muscle tissue function that could increase basal metabolic rate. However, functional alterations in muscle function in early Parkinson's disease (i.e. accessory muscle activity) to support posture during sitting upright and exercise is responsible at large extent for increased weight loss in early Parkinsonism,

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