Deficit of short-term memory in newly diagnosed untreated parkinsonian patients: reversal after L-dopa therapy.
We assessed the effect of pathology and L-dopa therapy on attention, working memory, and executive functions, in newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease patients. Twenty-one consecutive outpatients who met the criteria for de novo Parkinson's disease, and were naive for L-dopa therapy, were observed for the first time. All patients underwent clinical and neuropsychological evaluations (cognitive decline, memory, executive control). Each patient was reevaluated on standard L-dopa therapy. Serial Position Curves showed an increased primacy effect (5.18+/-2.07) and a decreased recency effect (13.35+/-5.51). These findings normalized after L-dopa therapy (3.50+/-1.72 and 16.20+/-3.09 respectively). The effect of L-dopa on working memory is discussed.
1st Neurological Clinic, Neurological and Psychiatric Science Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
P
P
Marini
S
S
Ramat
A
A
Ginestroni
M
M
Paganini
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa