2.5. Motor function examination

Motor performance of the subjects was tested with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale - Part III (UPDRS-III), which is a comprehensive evaluation of motor function used clinically to test severity of disease in patients with Parkinson Disease (Goetz et al, 2007). The examination was performed by a certified neurologist (S.E.Z.) for all subjects. Rigidity scores were calculated as the summation of 5 items: rigidity in the neck, rigidity in the left upper extremity (LUE), rigidity in the right upper extremity (RUE), rigidity in the left lower extremity (LLE) and rigidity in the right lower extremity (RLE). Tremor scores were calculated as the summation of 7 items: left and right kinetic tremor of the hands, rest tremor amplitude in lip/jaw, RUE, LUE, RLE and LLE. A higher UPDRS score indicates a worse motor performance. UPDRS scores up to 15 are considered within the normal range.