Alternative Rating System
Hoehn and Yahr is not the only rating system. A popular complaint about that type of rating system is that it focuses more on motor symptoms. There are other types of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, such as intellectual impairment.
Because of this, many doctors may also use the MDS-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale [3]. This rating system asks 50 comprehensive questions about both motor and nonmotor symptoms. It allows them to rate cognitive difficulties that may impair day-to-day tasks and the effectiveness of treatment.
This scale is much more complicated, but it’s also more thorough. It allows doctors to take into account a more complete picture that examines the person’s entire state of health instead of just motor symptoms.