Cognitive changes in prodromal Parkinson's disease: A review
Sophie Fengler1,2, Inga Liepelt-Scarfone3,4, Kathrin Brockmann3,4
1Department of Medical Psychology ǀ Neuropsychology and Gender Studies & Center for Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Intervention (CeNDI), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Summary
Cognitive decline, particularly in executive function, may be an early sign of Parkinson's disease (PD). Further research is needed to confirm if these changes can help identify individuals at risk for developing PD.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Nonmotor symptoms are recognized as potential early indicators of Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Cognitive decline as a prodromal symptom of PD is less understood compared to other nonmotor phenomena.
- Existing research on cognitive changes in early-stage PD is limited, particularly longitudinal studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize current research on cognitive changes in prodromal Parkinson's disease (PD).
- To assess the evidence for cognitive decline in individuals at risk of developing PD.
- To determine if cognitive decline can be integrated into early identification strategies for PD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing longitudinal studies examining cognitive function in individuals who later received a PD diagnosis.
- Analysis of data from at-risk populations for potential cognitive impairments.
- Synthesis of findings on specific cognitive domains affected in prodromal PD.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests cognitive decline occurs in a significant number of individuals at risk for PD.
- Executive function is the most frequently affected cognitive domain.
- Memory impairment is also observed, though less frequently than executive dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive decline, especially in executive functions, may precede motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease by years.
- Further prospective longitudinal studies are essential to validate cognitive changes as prodromal PD markers.
- Incorporating cognitive assessments could enhance risk prediction models for early PD identification.
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