Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Yilin Tang, Xiaoniu Liang, Linlin Han, Fang Peng, Bo Shen, Huiling Yu, Yan Shen, Cong Shen, Jin‐Tai Yu, Jian Wang
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) or dementia (PDD) has been shown to be correlated with poor quality of life (QoL). The association between specific cognitive domains and QoL is less clear. OBJECTIVE: To determine how the cognitive domains affect QoL in different cognitive states in PD. METHODS: We recruited 600 PD patients, including 185 PD patients with normal cognition (PD-NC), 336 PD-MCI patients, and 79 PDD patients. All patients underwent a scale-based assessment (PDQ-39) for QoL, as well as clinical evaluations and neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: Compared to PD-NC group, QoL became more impaired in the PD-MCI and PDD groups. Generalized linear model revealed that no neuropsychological test was significantly associated with QoL in PD-NC group; neuropsychological tests in attention and language domains were significantly associated with QoL in PD-MCI patients; neuropsychological tests in memory and language domains were significantly associated with QoL in PDD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive domains contribute differently to QoL in PD. These findings may prompt clinicians to target specific cognitive domains for improving QoL in the PD patients.