Validation of the Norwegian version of the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: The Movement Disorder Society-revised version of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) is the gold standard assessment for evaluating Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms and severity, but a validated Norwegian version is not yet available. We translated the original English MDS-UPDRS into Norwegian and tested the clinimetrics of the translated version following the MDS-established protocol for non-English language translations. Methods: Two independent teams translated the English version of the MDS-UPDRS into Norwegian. After review of the back-translated English version, cognitive pretesting was performed in twelve PD patients at one study site. This was followed by large-scale testing completed by 351 native Norwegian-speaking PD patients at six centers across Norway. We applied confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses to determine the validity of the Norwegian version. Additional analyses were performed to test the reliability of the translated scale. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the factor structure of the Norwegian version was consistent with that of the English version, as indicated by comparative fit indexes of ≥0.90 for all four MDS-UPDRS parts. Exploratory factor analysis showed the same number of factors in each MDS-UPDRS part, compared to the English version, with some differences in item loadings. Cronbach's α values were >0.70 for all four MDS-UPDRS parts. Conclusion: The Norwegian language MDS-UPDRS has good construct validity and internal consistency, meeting the requirements to be designated as the Official Norwegian Version of the MDS-UPDRS. We recommend using this validated version in both research and clinical practice.
Authors: Guido Alves, Yvonne Stavland Sørenes, Veslemøy Hamre Frantzen, Michaela Dreetz Gjerstad, Anders Ledaal Bjørnestad, Jodi Maple-Grødem, Elin Bjelland Forsaa, Ylva Hivand Hiorth, Karen Herlofson, Espen Benjaminsen, Kari Anne Bjørnarå, Espen Dietrichs, Roberta Balestrino, Carmen Gasca-Salas, Chi-Ying R. Lin, Alvaro Sanchez-Ferro, Michelle H.S. Tosin, Tiago A. Mestre, Monica M. Kurtis, Pablo Martinez-Martin, Sheng Luo, Luowen Yu, Glenn T. Stebbins, Christopher G. Goetz
Institutions: Stavanger University Hospital, University of Stavanger, Sørlandet Hospital Arendal, Nordland Hospital Trust, Drammen Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Raffaele, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, HM Hospitales, University Hospital HM Puerta del Sur, Baylor College of Medicine, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Hospital Universitario 12 De Octubre, Rush University Medical Center, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, uOttawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Hospital Ruber Internacional, Duke University
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,730
Funders: U.S. Department of Defense, Alzheimer's Association, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer, CHDI Foundation, International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, University of Ottawa, Rush University, Fondation Brain Canada, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Parkinson's Foundation, Neurocrine Biosciences, University of Oxford, Eisai, Norges Forskningsråd, Parkinson Canada, National Institutes of Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Stavanger Universitetssjukehus, Dystonia Coalition
OpenAlex ID: W7119126258