CHAPTER 2 METHODS Participants Ten (5 male; 5 female; mean age 68.5 years; Table 2-1) participants with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) were recruited from the University of Florida (UF) and Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center Movement Disorders Clinics in Gainesville, Florida. All participants were on one or more anti-Parkinsonian medications (i.e., Levodopa/Carbidopa, Selegeline, Amantadine etc). Inclusionary criteria included: 1) age between 35-80 years; 2) diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease by a movement disorders neurologist; 3) moderate clinical disability level (II-III; Hoehn & Yahr, 1967); and 4) score of at least 24 on the Mini- Mental State Examination (Folstein, Folstein, & McHugh, 1975). Exclusionary criteria included: 1) other neurological disorders; 2) gastrointestinal disease; 3) gastro-esophageal surgery; 4) head and neck cancer; 5) history of breathing disorders or diseases; 6) untreated hypertension; 7) heart disease; 8) history of smoking in the last five years; 9) failing the screening test of pulmonary functions; and 10) difficulty complying due to neuropsychological dysfunction (i.e., severe depression). Once patients were screened for inclusionary and exclusionary criteria, participants gave written consent and were subsequently enrolled in the study. The study was approved by the UF and VA Institutional Review Boards (154-2003). Participants were all "on" PD medications when the testing was conducted. They were tested one-hour after medications were taken in order to help ensure measures were completed at optimal