Comparing balance using the BESTest in Alzheimer, Huntington and Parkinson disease.

Individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD), Huntington disease (HD) and Parkinson disease (PD) have impaired balance, and comparing these deficits could improve management of neurological diseases. Scores on the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) were compared across three groups, consisting of individuals with AD, HD and PD in early stages of their respective disease. Individuals with PD had significantly higher scores on the BESTest than individuals with AD (95% CI [4.30, 21.37],  < 0.01) or HD (95% CI [6.53, 24.18],  < 0.001). Individuals with AD and HD were not significantly different on the overall BESTest or any of its subsections. AD and HD may have overlapping pathologies resulting in early and similar balance impairments in these groups.