Freezing is least likely to occur in which stage of Parkinson's Disease?

Freezing of gait is a phenomenon often experienced by individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, characterized by a brief but intense inability to move. This freezing is more commonly observed in the later stages of the disease when motor symptoms become exacerbated, and the progression of Parkinson's typically leads to a greater frequency of freezing events.

In the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, patients may experience milder symptoms, and mobility can still be relatively intact. They may not yet exhibit the severe motor control issues that lead to freezing, making it least likely for freezing to occur in these early stages.

In contrast, freezing becomes more prevalent in advanced stages due to increased rigidity, bradykinesia, and other motor impairments. Additionally, freezing can be triggered or exacerbated during medication off times, when the effects of dopaminergic medications have diminished, or during periods of anxiety, which heighten the overall symptomatology of Parkinson’s Disease. Therefore, when evaluating the likelihood of freezing occurrence, the early stage presents as the least likely scenario.