About morning akinesia
Morning OFF (or morning akinesia) and nocturnal immobility are common and troubling symptoms for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Morning OFF refers to a period of impaired mobility and increased motor symptoms experienced upon waking, due to the overnight wearing-off of dopaminergic medication. Nocturnal immobility involves an inability to move or turn in bed during the night, often leading to poor sleep quality and discomfort.
These phenomena are particularly problematic because they interfere with patients’ ability to begin daily activities, causing delays in treatment effectiveness and significant impacts on quality of life. Up to 50-70% of PD patients across disease stages experience morning akinesia or nocturnal immobility, reflecting a significant unmet need in PD management.
Current treatment options, such as extended-release dopaminergic therapies or rescue therapies, do not fully address these challenges. This highlights the need for more effective therapeutic strategies to manage these motor complications and improve overall patient well-being.