Cognitive subtypes of Parkinson's disease patients with cognitive impairment and implications for geriatric nursing interventions: A latent profile analysis

To identify cognitive subtypes in Parkinson's disease patients with cognitive impairment (PD-CI) and explore their influencing factors, so as to provide empirical evidence for targeted geriatric nursing interventions.

This cross-sectional study recruited PD-CI patients using convenience sampling from August 2022 to July 2025. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Beijing version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-BJ), Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (MDS-UPDRS III), modified Hoehn and Yahr scale (modified HY), and Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL). Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified cognitive subtypes, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression explored influencing factors.

A total of 246 PD-CI patients were included. LPA identified three cognitive profiles: high cognition-isolated memory decline group (class 1, n=161, 65.4 %), moderate cognition-multi-domain impairment group (class 2, n=64, 26.1 %), low cognition-dementia high risk group (class 3, n=21, 8.5 %).Class 1 had the best overall cognition, with isolated memory decline. Class 2 presented multi-domain impairments (abstraction, memory, visuospatial/executive functions) and significantly worse ADL than Class 1. Class 3 showed the most severe overall cognitive decline, particularly in visuospatial/executive functions and attention, with concurrent ADL and motor deterioration.

PD-CI patients show heterogeneous cognitive subtypes with distinct nursing needs. Class 1 requires memory support and safety education; Class 2 needs comprehensive ADL assistance; Class 3 demands proactive integrated management of cognitive, ADL, and motor decline with robust caregiver support. These findings inform personalized geriatric nursing for PD-CI patients.