Exploring the relationship between motor impairment, vascular burden and cognition in Parkinson's disease

To determine frequency and type of cognitive disorders in cross-sectional analysis of a Parkinson's disease (PD) cohort, and explore its relations to motor symptoms, modifiable vascular risk factors and white matter lesions (WML) volume.

In a group of 133 PD patients, mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) and dementia (PDD) were diagnosed according to Movement Disorders Society Task Force criteria (level 2 for PD-MCI). Detailed motor measurements were applied, including rigidity, axial, bradykinesia, tremor and postural instability gait disorders (PIGD) scores. Vascular risk was estimated by the Framingham General Cardiovascular Disease risk scoring algorithm and WML volume was measured for whole brain and frontal lobe.

Sixty-one (46.9%) patients fulfilled criteria for PD-MCI, and 23 (17.7%) for PDD. Non-amnestic multiple domain MCI was most frequent (52% of PD-MCI patients). Motor scores were significantly higher in cognitively impaired patients, but only axial score discriminated between MCI and dementia. High vascular risk was related to impaired cognition, bradykinesia, axial, PIGD and freezing of gait (FOG) score, while whole brain WML volume was associated with PDD, FOG and attention deficits. Furthermore, high vascular risk was identified as a potential predictor of both MCI and dementia in PD. Additionally, age and bradykinesia score were independently associated with PD-MCI and age, axial score and whole brain WML volume with PDD.

Cognitive disorders in PD are associated with more severe, predominantly axial motor deficits and increased, but partly modifiable vascular burden, thus opening a possibility for development of preventive strategies in PD.