Cognitive impairment and dementia in young onset Parkinson's disease

Background and objectivePatients with young-onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD) have a slower progression. Our aim was to analyze the change in cognitive function in YOPD compared to patients with a later onset and controls.Patients and methodsPatients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and controls from the COPPADIS cohort were included. Cognitive function was assessed with the Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS) at baseline (V0), 2-year & PLUSMN; 1 month (V2y), and 4-year & PLUSMN; 3 months follow-up (V4y). Regarding age from symptoms onset, patients were classified as YOPD (< 50 years) or non-YOPD (& GE; 50). A score in the PD-CRS < 81 was defined as cognitive impairment (CI): & LE; 64 dementia; 65-80 mild cognitive impairment (MCI).ResultsOne-hundred and twenty-four YOPD (50.7 & PLUSMN; 7.9 years; 66.1% males), 234 non-YOPD (67.8 & PLUSMN; 7.8 years; 59.3% males) patients, and 205 controls (61 & PLUSMN; 8.3 years; 49.5% males) were included. The score on the PD-CRS and its subscore domains was higher at all visits in YOPD compared to non-YOPD patients and to controls (p < 0.0001 in all analysis), but no differences were detected between YOPD patients and controls. Only non-YOPD patients had significant impairment in their cognitive function from V0 to V4y (p < 0.0001). At V4y, the frequency of dementia and MCI was 5% and 10% in YOPD compared to 25.2% and 22.3% in non-YOPD patients (p < 0.0001). A lower score on the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale at baseline was a predictor of CI at V4y in YOPD patients (Adjusted R-2 = 0.61; OR = 0.965; p = 0.029).ConclusionCognitive dysfunction progressed more slowly in YOPD than in non-YOPD patients.

Automated summary

This study aimed to analyze the change in cognitive function in patients with young-onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD) compared to those with a later onset and controls. The results showed that YOPD patients had better cognitive function compared to non-YOPD patients and controls, while non-YOPD patients experienced a significant decline in cognitive function during the study. At the end of the study, the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment was significantly higher in non-YOPD patients than in YOPD patients.