Abstract
Objective:
to analyze demographic and clinical variables as predictors of cognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Method:
a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out at the Pro-Parkinson Program of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Pernambuco. The instruments used were the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s disease - Cognition (SCOPA-COG), the Hoehn & Yahr Staging Scale (HY), the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part 3 (UPDRS-III), and the 15-item Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). A multiple linear regression model was used for the predictive outcome and the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the elderly and the non-elderly groups.
Results:
the sociodemographic data of 85 people were collected and the participants underwent a cognitive profile evaluation (MMSE and SCOPA-COG) and clinical evaluation (HY, UPDRS-III, GDS-15). Multiple regression analysis found significant results for age, work activity, and tremor index, explaining 59% of the variability of SCOPA-COG. There was an inverse correlation with age and work activity and a direct correlation with tremors. The SCOPA-COG and MEEM scores were significantly lower in elderly patients, with an emphasis on executive functions.
Conclusion:
the predictors of cognitive impairment were age, work activity, and tremors. Cognitive impairment was greater in elderly patients with PD, especially for executive functions.
Keywords:
Aging; Cognition; Parkinson Disease