Executive function differences in multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Parkinsonism & related disorders Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 205 - 211
• Main Authors: Dujardin, Kathy, Defebvre, Luc, Krystkowiak, Pierre, Degreef, Jean François, Destee, Alain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Age of Onset; Aged; Antiparkinson Agents - therapeutic use; Color Perception; Disease Progression; Executive function; Female; Humans; Levodopa - therapeutic use; Male; Memory - physiology; Middle Aged; Multiple system atrophy; Multiple System Atrophy - drug therapy; Multiple System Atrophy - physiopathology; Neuropsychological Tests; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson's disease; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Verbal Behavior; Multiple system atrophy; Executive function; Parkinson's disease
• ISSN: 1353-8020; 1873-5126
• DOI: 10.1016/S1353-8020(02)00050-0

The aim of the present study was to assess executive function in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD) looking for specific differences and considering motor disability and disease duration. Performance of 11 MSA patients was compared to that of 12 healthy controls and two groups of 12 PD patients, one matched with respect to the severity of motor symptoms and the other with respect to disease duration. Compared to healthy controls, MSA and PD patients both presented executive dysfunction but, in MSA, the impairment was more severe and diffuse. This study suggests that despite the evidence of some differences in executive function in MSA and PD, the contribution of standard neuropsychological examination to the differential diagnosis of both syndromes remains still limited.