Distinct features of the cortical N1 response to balance perturbation are associated with balance and cognitive impairments in Parkinson's disease

• Published in: bioRxiv
• Main Authors: Payne, Aiden M, J Lucas Mckay, Ting, Lena H
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 10.02.2022
• Subjects: Cognitive ability; Coordination; Movement disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Parkinson's disease; Parkinsons disease; Rehabilitation
• DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.08.479608

Mechanisms underlying associations between balance and cognitive impairments in older adults with and without Parkinson's disease (PD) are poorly understood. Balance disturbances evoke a cortical N1 response that is associated with both balance and cognitive abilities in unimpaired populations. We hypothesized that the N1 response reflects a neural mechanism that is shared between balance and cognitive function, and would therefore be associated with both balance and cognitive impairments in PD. Although N1 responses did not differ at the group level they showed distinct associations with balance and cognitive function in the PD vs. control (noPD) groups. In noPD, higher N1 amplitudes were correlated with lower cognitive set shifting ability and lower balance confidence. However, in PD, higher N1 amplitudes were correlated with lower overall cognitive function, while earlier and narrower N1 peaks were correlated with more severe PD and balance impairments. Our results show that balance and cognitive impairments are dissociable and associated with distinct features of the N1 response, suggesting that the N1 response reflects coordination of distinct mechanisms for balance and cognitive function. Identifying coordinated but dissociable mechanisms underlying balance and cognitive processes may reveal potential targets for rehabilitation of comorbid balance and cognitive impairments. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.