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Postural Dynamics Are Associated With Cognitive Decline in Parkinson's Disease
Annette Pantall1, Piriya Suresparan1, Leanne Kapa1
1Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University Institute of Ageing, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Neurology
|December 21, 2018
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients exhibit declining postural control and cognitive function over time, linked by shared neural pathways. These changes may reflect a compensatory strategy, highlighting the need for integrated interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Movement Disorders
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) presents with early motor and cognitive impairments, suggesting interconnected pathological processes.
- Postural instability in PD predicts falls, significantly impacting patient quality of life.
- Understanding the interplay between postural control and cognitive decline is crucial for effective PD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze longitudinal changes in postural dynamics in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
- To investigate the relationship between evolving postural dysfunction and cognitive impairment over time.
- To explore potential shared neural mechanisms underlying motor and cognitive changes in PD.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 35 Parkinson's disease patients (mean age 66) over 54 months.
- Postural dynamics assessed via lower back accelerometry (jerk, RMS, frequency, ellipsis).
- Cognitive function evaluated using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and digit span tests.
Main Results:
- Significant decline observed in postural accelerometry metrics, particularly in the anteroposterior direction.
- Progressive decline in cognitive function (MoCA, digit span) noted over the study period.
- Reduced postural dynamics correlated with lower cognitive function, increased depression, and decreased balance confidence.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with Parkinson's disease demonstrate reduced postural dynamics, potentially a compensatory safety mechanism.
- The association between postural changes, cognitive decline, and depression suggests common underlying neural pathways.
- Further neuroimaging studies are warranted to elucidate the neural correlates of these observed associations in PD.