Dementia and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 51; no. 12; pp. 1498 - 1502
• Main Authors: Girotti, F, Soliveri, P, Carella, F, Piccolo, I, Caffarra, P, Musicco, M, Caraceni, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.12.1988; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dementia; Dementia - diagnosis; Dementia - psychology; Disability Evaluation; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Parkinson Disease - diagnosis; Parkinson Disease - psychology; Psychometrics; Human; Nervous system diseases; Cognitive disorder; Higher nervous function; Parkinson disease; Exploration; Psychometrics; Degenerative disease; Dementia
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.51.12.1498

The frequency of dementia, the clinical characteristics and the pattern of cognitive impairment were studied in 147 unselected Parkinsonian patients. Twenty-one patients (14.28%) were judged to be demented. They had a more severe and widespread cognitive deficit although they were affected particularly in those tests that already discriminated Parkinsonian patients from controls. A direct comparison of Parkinsonian dementia with other types of dementia is needed to validate the concept of subcortical dementia.