Cognition and Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease known for its progressive prognosis which may be associated with delay in diagnosis. Its etiology can be composed of different modalities involving genetic, psychiatric, and social factors. Findings and observations from clinical settings, motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity have been reported. In addition, non-motor symptoms, such as depression and cognitive dysfunctions have been demonstrated. Moreover, decrease in quality of life has been reported in people with Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Although multidisciplinary studies on Parkinson's disease indicated general the molecular and radiological findings of the disease, inconsistent data are reported in terms of modalities such as cognitive functioning, depression, and quality of life. The present study aims to present the current perspective in the context of quality of life by examining the findings reported in the cognitive and psychiatric context of Parkinson's disease. According to the findings of this study, cognitive impairments that can be identified based on the course of the disease, manifesting in various forms such as attention, memory, and visual-spatial skills, negatively impact the quality of life for patients. The emergence of depression or depression-like symptoms can further decrease the overall quality of life for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.