Fatigue in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is more than just tiredness—it’s a deep, often debilitating lack of energy that medicine still struggles to explain. But a new study offers a promising lead.

In our study, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate how the brain prepares for movement in PD patients, focusing on a process called pre-movement facilitation (PMF), a subtle ramping-up of motor cortex activity just before a voluntary action.

PD patients who experience fatigue showed no PMF in the hemisphere most affected by their symptoms. In contrast, those without fatigue and healthy controls exhibited normal PMF patterns. This absence of PMF strongly correlated with fatigue severity and rigidity.

The implication? Fatigue in PD may stem from a central failure in motor preparation, not just muscle weariness. And that opens up exciting possibilities: Could restoring this brain readiness—perhaps through brain stimulation—help fight fatigue?

This study brings us a step closer to understanding—and treating—one of PD’s most challenging non-motor symptoms.

You can read the full article at this link.