Appendix A.3. Importance of Caregiver Perspectives
Most clinical trials rely upon informed clinician judgment based on validated instruments and (when available) imaging/molecular/biochemical markers, but no validated standard scales exist for LsPD [Caregiver observations also were more consistent and less variable than experienced physicians. This is not surprising since caregivers were intimately familiar with nuanced baseline patient behaviors, were able to provide insight and context for typical/atypical behavioral observations, and were with participants 24/7 during the study. It also is noteworthy that blinded caregivers consistently identified the levodopa week as not being remarkably different from home. This gives credence to the caregivers’ observations and objectivity.