Speech Differences between Multiple System Atrophy and Parkinson's Disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Delineation of Parkinson's disease (PD) from multiple system atrophy (MSA) can be challenging in early disease stages. Speech characteristics have been studied as digital biomarkers in PD and ataxias. Currently, data on speech in MSA is limited.

Objectives

To determine whether speech characteristics can serve as a digital biomarker to differentiate between MSA and PD.

Methods

Twenty-one MSA patients and 23 PD patients underwent a battery of speech assessments: text reading, sustained phonation and diadochokinetic tasks. Speech characteristics were extracted using the software, Praat.

Results

MSA and PD speech can be described by three meaningful factors. MSA speech exhibited more reading pauses, higher pitch variability, prolonged syllables, and a mo

SUBMITTER: Hahnel T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12481427 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature