title: Cognitive impairments in Parkinson's disease: Evidence from an Iranian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have different cognitive impairments. The goal of this study is the analysis of these changes in the mentioned patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed on 87 patients with PD. Patients were given a questionnaire to gather data about their medical and living statuses. To assess cognitive assessment, SCOPA-COG (Scales for Outcome in Parkinson Cognition) was used by an expert cognitive neuroscientist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age inversely correlated to memory and learning (P < 0.01). Education level correlated directly to attention, memory, learning, executive function and visuospatial function (for all items P < 0.001). Spouse relationship type showed inverse association with memory, learning, executive function and visuospatial function (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive domains in PD patients may be under the influence of different factors. Due to the lack of control group in this study, cautious interpretation of findings is needed.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ashrafi
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zali
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pakdaman
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johari
keywords: Cognitive Impairment; Parkinson's Disease; Scales for Outcome in Parkinson Cognition