title: A dopamine agonist, pramipexole, and cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The cognitive performance of 55 non-demented idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) patients treated with levodopa alone or receiving dopamine agonist pramipexole as add-on therapy to levodopa was evaluated in the present study during 6 months of treatment. Neuropsychological tests were administered two times. In the first assessment to differentiate test sensitive to cognitive changes typical for PD control group was also assessed. After 6 months of treatment PD patients were retested only with tests that differentiate them from control group. Compared to controls PD patients showed inferior performance on Stroop Interference test, Trail Making test, letter fluency and Hooper Visual Organization Test. No statistically significant differences between two groups and first and second neuropsychological assessment were found. Present findings indicate that pramipexole as add-on therapy to levodopa is safe in non-demented PD patients in terms of the effect on cognitive performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Zagreb, Kispatićeva 12, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Relja
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klepac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000077487:Pramipexole
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D007980:Levodopa; D000077487:Pramipexole