The relationship between executive function and verbal memory in Parkinson’s disease

AbstractObjectives: Both depression and apathy, alone and in combination, have been shown to negatively affect cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the influence of specific symptom dimensions of depression and apathy on cognition is not well understood. The current study investigated the relationship between symptom dimensions of depression and apathy, based on factors identified in Kirsch-Darrow et al. (2011), and memory and executive function in PD. Methods: A sample of 138 non-demented individuals with PD (mean age=64.51±7.43 years) underwent neuropsychological testing and completed the Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd Edition, and Apathy Scale. Separate hierarchical regression models examined the relationship between symptom dimensions of depression and apathy (“pure” depressive symptoms, “pure” apathy, loss of interest/pleasure [anhedonia], and somatic symptoms) and three cognitive domain composites: immediate verbal memory, delayed verbal memory, and executive function. Results: After adjusting for general cognitive status and the influence of the other symptom dimensions, “pure” depressive symptoms were negatively associated with the delayed verbal memory composite (p<.034) and somatic symptoms were positively associated with the executive function composite (p<.026). No symptom dimensions were significantly related to the immediate verbal memory composite. Conclusions: Findings suggest that specific mood symptoms are associated with delayed verbal memory and executive function performance in non-demented patients with PD. Further research is needed to better understand possible mechanisms through which specific symptom dimensions of depression and apathy are associated with cognition in PD. (JINS, 2018, 24, 269–282)

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Cognitive Reserve, Executive Function, and Memory in Parkinson’s Disease

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11080992 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 992

Author(s):

Andrea M. Loftus ◽

Natalie Gasson ◽

Nicole Lopez ◽

Michelle Sellner ◽

Carly Reid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Executive Function ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Verbal Fluency ◽

Cognitive Reserve ◽

Cognitive Domain ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

Immediate Recall ◽

The Relationship

Cognitive impairment is acknowledged as a feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the most common cognitive declines are in executive function (EF) and memory. Cognitive reserve (CR) may offer some protection against cognitive dysfunction in PD. The present study used two proxies of CR (years of education, premorbid IQ) to examine the relationship between CR and (i) EF (ii) memory in a large PD sample (n = 334). Two aspects of EF were examined, including verbal fluency and planning skills. Two aspects of verbal memory were examined, including immediate recall and delayed recall. For EF, both CR proxies significantly predicted verbal fluency, but only years of education predicted planning skills. Years of education significantly predicted immediate recall, but premorbid IQ did not. Neither CR proxy predicted delayed recall. These findings suggest that CR, in particular years of education, may contribute to EF and memory function in those with PD. A key finding of this study is the varying contribution of CR proxies to different aspects of the same cognitive domain. The findings indicate that using only one proxy has the potential to be misleading and suggest that when testing the relationship between CR and cognition, studies should include tasks that measure different aspects of the cognitive domain(s) of interest.

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Influence of Hypertension on Neurocognitive Domains in Nondemented Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Parkinson s Disease ◽

10.1155/2014/507529 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jacob D. Jones ◽

Charles Jacobson ◽

Martina Murphy ◽

Catherine Price ◽

Michael S. Okun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Executive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact ◽

Health Comorbidities

Objective. Health comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular risk factors, are well known to pose risks for cognitive decline in older adults. To date, little attention has focused on the impact of these comorbidities on Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study examined the prevalence and contribution of comorbidities on cognitive status in PD patients, above and beyond the effects of disease severity.Methods. A cross sectional design was used, including neuropsychological data on 341 PD patients without severe cognitive decline. Comorbidity data were collected via medical chart review. Data were analyzed using a series of multiple hierarchical regressions, controlling for PD-related disease variables.Results. Overall sample characteristics are 69% male, disease duration 9.7 years, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale 26.4, and age 64.7 years. Hypercholesterolemia (41.6%), hypertension (38.1%), and hypotension (30.2%) were the most reported comorbidities. The presence of hypertension significantly contributed to domains of executive function and verbal memory. The cooccurrence of orthostatic hypotension moderated the relationship between hypertension and executive function.Conclusions. This study on a large cohort of PD patients provides evidence for a detrimental influence of health comorbidities, particularly hypertension, on cognitive domains that have traditionally been conceptualized as being frontally and/or temporally mediated.

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Muscle strength and executive function as complementary parameters for the assessment of impairment in Parkinson's disease

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/0004-282x20130175 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 71 (12) ◽

pp. 948-954

Author(s):

Dannyel Barbirato ◽

Alessandro Carvalho ◽

Narahyana Bom de Araujo ◽

Jose Vicente Martins ◽

Andrea Deslandes

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Executive Function ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Motor Impairment ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Cognitive Capacity ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

The Relationship

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the quantitative results of functional and cognitive performance of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and disease severity; and to study the relationship between patients' functional and cognitive capacity and motor impairment (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale - UPDRS III). Method Twenty-nine subjects clinically diagnosed with PD were classified into three groups according to disease severity using the modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale (H&Y). They were submitted to functional (Senior Fitness Test) and neuropsychological tests. Stepwise regression analysis showed a significant association between H&Y and upper limb strength (r 2 =0.30; p=0.005) and executive function (r 2 =0.37; p=0.004). In relation to UPDRS III, there was a significant association between lower limb strength (r 2 =0.27; p=0.010) and global cognitive status (r 2 =0.24; p=0.024). Conclusion The implementation of simple tests of functional capacity associated with neuropsychological testing can help to assess disease severity and motor impairment, and can be used to monitor the response to treatment in PD.

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P1.038 Rivastigmine treatment effects and the relationship between executive function and cognition, behavior and ADLs in Parkinson's disease dementia

Parkinsonism & Related Disorders ◽

10.1016/s1353-8020(09)70160-9 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

pp. S38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

F. Schmitt ◽

M. Farlow ◽

J. Olin ◽

X. Meng

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Executive Function ◽

Treatment Effects ◽

Parkinson’S Disease Dementia ◽

The Relationship

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Relationship between Postural Deformities and Frontal Function in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson s Disease ◽

10.1155/2015/462143 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Satoko Ninomiya ◽

Akihiko Morita ◽

Hiroko Teramoto ◽

Takayoshi Akimoto ◽

Hiroshi Shiota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Executive Function ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Behavioral Assessment ◽

Executive Dysfunction ◽

Scale Item ◽

Disease Rating ◽

The Relationship ◽

Postural Deformity

Postural deformities and executive dysfunction (ED) are common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, the relationship between postural deformities and ED in patients with PD remains unclear. This study assessed the relationship between postural deformities and ED in patients with PD. Sixty-five patients with sporadic PD were assessed for the severity of postural deformities and executive function. The severity of postural deformities was scored using the United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale item 28 score: no postural deformity (0), mild postural deformities (1), or severe postural deformities (2–4). Executive function was assessed using the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) and an age-controlled standardized BADS score <70 was defined as ED. Age-controlled standardized BADS scores were compared across the three groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Relationship between ED and the severity of postural deformities was assessed using the Mann-WhitneyUtest. Age-controlled standardized BADS score significantly differed among the three groupsP=0.005. ED was significantly related to the severity of postural deformitiesP=0.0005. The severity of postural deformities was associated with a lower age-controlled standardized BADS score and ED, and these findings suggest that postural deformities were associated with frontal dysfunction in patients with PD.

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