One-year practice effects predict long-term cognitive outcomes in Parkinson's disease
Sofía Avila Pérez1, Vincent Koppelmans2, Kevin M Duff3
1Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Journal of Parkinson'S Disease
|April 30, 2025
Summary
Smaller practice effects on cognitive tests in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients predict future cognitive impairment and dementia (PDD). This finding aids in identifying at-risk individuals for early intervention and clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Predicting cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease (PD) is crucial for timely interventions and clinical trial enrichment.
- Cognitive impairment and dementia are significant challenges for individuals with PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if practice effects on cognitive tests over one year can predict cognitive impairment (CI) and dementia (PDD) in PD patients.
- To assess the prognostic value of cognitive test practice effects in Parkinson's disease.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 549 cognitively intact PD patients from the PPMI database over at least five years.
- Cognitive function assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a neuropsychological battery.
- Practice effects quantified using standardized regression-based change scores, comparing PD patients to controls.
Main Results:
- 39% of PD patients developed CI and 10% developed PDD during the study.
- PD patients exhibited smaller one-year practice effects compared to controls.
- Smaller practice effects on cognitive tests, particularly processing speed, predicted increased risk for CI and PDD.
Conclusions:
- One-year practice effects on cognitive tests are valuable predictors of long-term cognitive outcomes in Parkinson's disease.
- These findings can inform clinical care by identifying individuals at higher risk for cognitive decline.
- Practice effects offer a potential method for enriching clinical trial samples for disease-modifying agents.
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