Cognitive Concerns and Performance in Early Parkinson's Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Luu Britney, Bangen Katherine, Garcia Mary Ellen, Urias Uriel, Galasko Douglas, Thomas Kelsey
Primary Institution: San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego
Hypothesis
This study examines the relationship between subjective cognitive concerns and neuropsychological performance in individuals at risk for Parkinson's disease.
Conclusion
Subjective cognitive concerns in prodromal Parkinson's disease are associated with lower performance on tasks requiring speeded retrieval and processing, rather than memory.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants with subjective cognitive concerns performed worse on Animal Fluency and Symbol Digit Modalities tests.
- The study adjusted for various factors including age, education, and psychiatric factors.
Takeaway
People who think they have memory problems before getting Parkinson's disease might actually just be slower at certain tasks, not necessarily worse at remembering things.
Methodology
The study used analyses of covariance to examine the association between subjective cognitive concerns and various neuropsychological measures, adjusting for several factors.
Limitations
The study may not generalize to all individuals at risk for Parkinson's disease, as it focused on a specific cohort.
Participant Demographics
Mean age of participants was 67.75 years, with a mix of individuals reporting subjective cognitive concerns and those who did not.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=.009, p=.036
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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