Parkinson's Disease Dementia is Studied
Posted on: Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 09:17 CDT
U.S. medical scientists have discovered an intermediate stage in patients with Parkinson's disease that might be predictive of eventual dementia.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic, Sun Health Research Institute and the Arizona Parkinson's Disease Consortium studied how patients with Parkinson's disease transition to an immediate state of cognitive problems before developing dementia.
Dementia is associated with Parkinson's in up to 40 percent of patients.
In the study, led by Mayo Clinic Dr. J.N. Caviness in Scottsdale, Ariz., subjects underwent testing for problems with memory, planning and abstract thinking ability, attention, language and visuospatial function. Researchers found 22 percent of subjects had significant cognitive problems in one or two areas, but not severe enough to be diagnosed with dementia.
The value in identifying such a state of mild cognitive impairment is that this intermediate stage could provide clues about how cognitive ability can deteriorate in Parkinson's disease, said Caviness. Understanding this intermediate state of cognitive impairment could help in finding treatments for cognitive problems in Parkinson's.
The study appeared in the July 15 issue of the journal Movement Disorders.
Source: United Press International
Related Articles
- Surgery Not Linked To Memory Problems In Older Patients
- Parkinson's Disease Alters Patient's Ability to Learn from Rewards
- A Simple Balance Test Could Predict Cognitive Decline In Alzheimer's Disease
- Study Shows Applied NeuroSolutions' Test is a Significant Predictor of the Decline From Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's Disease
- ACTOS(R) (Pioglitazone HCl) Demonstrates Reduced Risk of Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
- Aspect Medical Systems Reports Interim Results From Two Ongoing Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Studies
- New MRI Image Technique Predicts Early Onset of Alzheimer's Disease in Patients With Mild Memory Problems
- FDA OKs Drug to Treat Parkinson's Dementia
- Incidence of End-Stage Renal Disease in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Was 7.8% at 30 Years After Diagnosis/COMMENTARY
- Myriad Genetics' Follow-on Study of Flurizan Demonstrates Cognitive Improvement in Alzheimer's Disease
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds