Is the functional decline of Parkinson's disease similar to the functional decline of Alzheimer's disease?

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2005 Aug;11(5):311-5. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2005.02.004.

Abstract

Since many Parkinson's disease (PD) subjects develop dementia, we determined whether the correlation between functional and cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is seen in PD. Seventy-five PD subjects with and without dementia and 103 AD/MCI subjects underwent the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST), the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), the UPDRS motor portion, and the MMSE. In AD/MCI subjects, changes in FAST and GDS scores correlated with MMSE (rho=-0.814, P<0.001; rho=-0.840, P<0.001, respectively). In PD subjects, the FAST and GDS also correlated with MMSE (rho=-0.675, P<0.001; rho=-0.647, P<0.001, respectively). The UPDRS correlated with the GDS and FAST more closely in PD than in AD. Similar to AD, functional declines in PD correlates with cognitive decline and may be influenced by motor disability in PD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology*
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Severity of Illness Index