Abstract

MICHALLAND B, Jorge. Study of early cognitive deterioration between Parkinson disease patients without dementia. Rev. chil. neuro-psiquiatr. [online]. 2008, vol.46, n.4, pp. 263-269. ISSN 0717-9227.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-92272008000400003.

The Parkinson disease (PD) was described in 1817 and it characterizes for showing neurodegenerative disorder with tremor, slow movements, rigidity and progressive difficulty for keeping posture and balance. More severe cognitive dysfunctions have been reported in PD patients who exhibited tremor at the onset of the illness in contrast with those of the acinetic/rigid subgroup; however, this point has not been cleared up yet. With the aim of studying the cognitive state of PD patients, a sample of PD idiopatic individuals was selected. The inclusion criteria which they had to comply with included an evolution of the disease inferior to 4 years and no cognitive damage for various causes. A battery of neuropsychological tests was used (Minimental Parkinson, Signoret, Stroop, Trail Making Test, Frontal Assessment Batery, Syndrom Kurztest Complex Figure of Rey), and some scale to classify patients as Rigid or Trembling were utilized (UPDRS, Hoehn & Yars). Considering also their functional status both groups presented a specific episodic immediate memory failure, worse in Trembling, a great Stroop effect, normal visuospatial and executive faculties and "Slight indication of organic mental disorder" (Syndrom Kurztest), without significant differences between them. No relationship was found between the functional stage, and the cognitive functions except for the A part of the Trail Making Test which proved a difference through the years. The early episodic memory deterioration founded without executive and visuospatial functions failure, although with that tendency, is remarkable.

Keywords : Early cognitive failure; working memory; episodic memory; Parkinson.