Examination of Cognitive Functions in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder whose main clinical features are rigidity, tremor, akinesia and postural instability. While Parkinson's disease primarily impairs the motor function, numerous studies have shown that it also affects cognition. Mental changes are often the inevitable follower of Parkinson's disease motor symptoms. The cognitive dysfunction of the subcorticofrontal type sometimes leading to dementia. Results of neuropsychological testing of 25 patients in I and II stages of the disease are shown. Tests for the frontal functions, visuomotor skills, visual organization and memory were administered. Results of this investigation showed that nondemented patients in early stages of the disease have low achievements on tests of frontal functions and memory. Patients exhibited the specific deficit in executive functioning, spatial behaviour, verbal and visual memory. Used neuropsychological tests have the diagnostic value in cognitive disfunction detection, in an early phase of Parkinson's disease. We may conclude that neuropsychological tests are important for identification of early cognitive disturbances in Parkinson's disease. By neuropsychological testing we can gat data on cerebral dysfunction that can be used for diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitational and research purposes.