title: Cognitive function assessment in idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by reduced nigrostriatal and cortical dopaminergic influence, with changes in movement and, subsequently, behavioral and cognitive disturbances. We studied cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease by assessing a group of 30 idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients with an average age of 64.23 years (PG group) and compared our findings with those for a control group of 30 patients (CG group). All the patients were submitted to the following assessments: motor function, using the UPDRS; staging, using the Hoehn-Yahr scales (PG group only); depression, using the Montgomery-Asberg scale; attention impairment; verbal fluency (FAR and animals); cognitive function, using the Mini Mental State Examination; visuospatial and executive functions; and clock drawing. In addition to altered motor function in PD patients, we found statistically significant differences between PD patients and controls in terms of cognitive function, verbal, executive and visuospatial functions, and attention deficits. Depression was more prevalent in the PG group.
authors: Neurology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clinicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua General Carneiro 181, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors: Mauro R
authors: MR
authors: Piovezan
authors: Helio A G
authors: HA
authors: Teive
authors: Elcio J
authors: EJ
authors: Piovesan
authors: Maria J
authors: MJ
authors: Mader
authors: Lineu Cesar
authors: LC
authors: Werneck
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index