What predicts cognitive decline in de novo Parkinson's disease?
Subtle cognitive impairment can be detected in early Parkinson's disease (PD). In a consecutive series of de novo, drug-naive PD patients, we applied stepwise regression analysis to assess which clinical, neuropsychological, and functional neuroimaging (dopamine transporter [DAT] and perfusion single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]) characteristics at baseline was predictive of cognitive decline during an average follow-up time of about 4 years. Decline both in executive (R(2) = 0.54; p = 0.0001) and visuospatial (R(2) = 0.56; p = 0.0001) functions was predicted by the couple of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-III score and caudate dopamine transporter (DAT) uptake in the less affected hemisphere (LAH). Verbal memory and language decline was predicted instead by caudate DAT uptake and brain perfusion in a posterior parieto-temporal area of the less affected hemisphere (R(2) = 0.42; p = 0.0005). No significant effect was shown for age, baseline neuropsychological scores, and levodopa equivalent dose at follow-up. The combined use of clinical structured examination and brain functional assessment by means of dual single photon emission computed tomography imaging appears as a powerful approach to predict cognitive decline in de novo PD patients.
Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Italy. dario.arnaldi@gmail.com
Dario
D
Arnaldi
Claudio
C
Campus
Michela
M
Ferrara
Francesco
F
Famà
Agnese
A
Picco
Fabrizio
F
De Carli
Jennifer
J
Accardo
Andrea
A
Brugnolo
Gianmario
G
Sambuceti
Silvia
S
Morbelli
Flavio
F
Nobili
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods