Hoehn and Yahr scale

The Hoehn and Yahr scale (pronounced: Hurn and Yar scale) is a commonly used system for describing how the symptoms of Parkinson's disease progress. It was first introduced in 1967 by Melvin Yahr and Margaret Hoehn and has since been widely adopted in clinical settings.

Etymology

The scale is named after its creators, Dr. Margaret Hoehn and Dr. Melvin Yahr. Both were prominent neurologists who made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Description

The Hoehn and Yahr scale is a five-stage system that provides a simple and reliable measure of the progression of Parkinson's disease. The stages range from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating minimal or no disability and 5 indicating severe disability.

Stage 1: Symptoms are mild and only affect one side of the body.
Stage 2: Symptoms are bilateral but the person is still able to live independently.
Stage 3: Balance is impaired but the person is still physically capable.
Stage 4: Severe disability, but the person can still walk or stand unassisted.
Stage 5: The person is wheelchair-bound or bedridden unless assisted.

Related Terms

Parkinson's disease: A neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain.
Neurology: The branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system.
Neurodegenerative diseases: Diseases characterized by the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Hoehn and Yahr scale
Wikipedia's article - Hoehn and Yahr scale

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Hoehn and Yahr scale