Cognitive change in Parkinson disease
1Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63108, USA. galvinj@neuro.wustl.edu
Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders
|November 30, 2006
Summary
Parkinson disease (PD) dementia is a debilitating cognitive impairment affecting many older adults with PD. Further research is needed to clarify its relationship with other dementias and understand symptom interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Parkinson disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder affecting 1% of individuals over 60.
- Dementia in Parkinson disease (PDD) is a significant and debilitating symptom, with up to 14% of PD patients over 65 experiencing cognitive impairment annually.
- The precise relationship between PDD, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Alzheimer disease (AD) remains unclear, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric features of cognitive deficits in PD.
- To discuss the pathological basis of these cognitive deficits.
- To propose future research directions for understanding and managing cognitive impairment in PD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical studies and pathological findings related to cognitive deficits in Parkinson disease.
- Analysis of existing data on the prevalence and progression of cognitive impairment in PD.
- Synthesis of information regarding the overlap and distinctions between PDD, DLB, and AD.
Main Results:
- Cognitive deficits and dementia are common in Parkinson disease, significantly impacting quality of life.
- The distinction between PDD, DLB, and AD is not well-defined, with frequent co-occurrence.
- The interplay between motor and non-motor symptoms in PD complicates the assessment of cognitive and psychomotor performance.
Conclusions:
- PDD is a complex condition with unclear diagnostic criteria and relationships to other neurodegenerative disorders.
- Understanding the pathological underpinnings and the interaction of various symptoms is crucial for advancing research.
- Further investigation is warranted to improve the characterization and management of cognitive decline in Parkinson disease.
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