Journal article
Characteristics of executive function impairment in Parkinson's disease patients without dementia
Audrey McKinlay, Randolph C Grace, John C Dalrymple-Alford, Derek Roger
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY | CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS | Published : 2010
Abstract
Executive function impairments in Parkinson's disease (PD) are well documented. However, uncertainties remain regarding the impact of these deficits on other areas of cognitive functioning. The goal of this study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of cognitive characteristics in patients with PD without dementia and to assess how any such deficits affected other areas of cognitive functioning. Forty PD patients without dementia were compared to healthy controls using measures of attention and speed of processing and a comprehensive set of executive function tests including working memory, planning, and problem solving. Measures of memory/learning and visuospatial skills were also incl..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We Lire grateful to Doctors Tim Anderson and John Fink for the referral of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and assistance with the interpretation and administration of the UPDRS. Audrey McKinlay was sponsored by a scholarship from the Foundation for Research Science and Technology, New Zealand, and by a Claude McCarthy Fellowship. This research was also sponsored by funding from the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation. No author has any conflict of interest.