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Cross-sectional associations between cognition and mobility in Parkinson’s disease

ASSOCIAÇÕES TRANSVERSAIS ENTRE COGNIÇÃO E MOBILIDADE NA DOENÇA DE PARKINSON

ABSTRACT.

Cross-sectional studies show an association of decline in mental flexibility and inhibitory control with reduced gait speed and falls, as well as divided attention deficit and difficulty in initiating gait.

Objective:

To investigate the relationships between cognitive function and gait performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who participated in a hospital neurorehabilitation program.

Methods:

A total of 107 patients (79 males, 28 females; mean age 61.00±8.2 years; mean schooling 11.7±4.1 years) with idiopathic PD (mean disease duration 5.5±4.1 years) were recruited for this study. Among them, 78.50% were in stages I and II of the Hoehn & Yahr Scale. Cognitive functions were evaluated through the Digit Span test, Trail Making Test, and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III. Motor function was assessed with the 10-Meter Walk Test, the short version of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), and the Timed Up and Go Test.

Results:

Balance skills were significantly correlated with global cognition and specific domains, including divided attention, verbal fluency, and visuospatial function. Functional mobility showed a significant association with all cognitive tests, except for the number of errors on TMT-A. Gait speed presented a significant correlation with global cognition scores, memory, and attention, including divided attention.

Conclusions:

These findings might help early identification of cognitive deficits or motor dysfunctions in PD patients who may benefit from rehabilitation strategies, as well as facilitate fall risk assessments and strategies to prevent falls. Future prospective studies are needed to investigate the effects of cognitive training on motor performance, since the difficulty in motor rehabilitation may be more related to cognitive loss than to motor damage.

Keywords:
Parkinson’s disease; gait; cognitive impairment; balance; executive functions

RESUMO.

Estudos transversais mostram associação entre declínio da flexibilidade mental e controle inibitório com redução da velocidade de marcha e quedas, assim como déficit de atenção dividida e dificuldade para iniciar a marcha.

Objetivo:

Investigar as relações entre a função cognitiva e o desempenho da marcha em pacientes com Doença de Parkinson (DP) que participaram de um programa de reabilitação hospitalar.

Métodos:

Um total de 107 pacientes (79 homens, 28 mulheres; idade média de 61,00±8,2 anos, média de escolaridade 11,7±4,1) apresentando DP idiopática (duração média da doença: 5,5±4,1 anos) foram recrutados para o estudo. Desses, 78,50% estavam nos estágios I e II da Hoehn e Yahr. As funções cognitivas foram avaliadas por meio do teste de Dígitos Spam, Teste de Trilhas e Exame Cognitivo de Addenbrooke (terceira versão). A função motora foi examinada por meio do teste de caminhada de 10 metros, Mini BESTest e teste Timed Up and Go.

Resultados:

As análises de correlação mostraram que as habilidades de equilíbrio estavam significativamente correlacionadas com a cognição global e com domínios específicos, incluindo atenção dividida, fluência verbal e função visuoespacial. Além disso, a mobilidade funcional apresentou correlação significativa com todos os testes cognitivos, exceto TMT-A (erro). A velocidade da marcha mostrou correlação significativa com escores globais de cognição, memória e atenção, incluindo atenção dividida.

Conclusões:

Esses achados podem ajudar na identificação precoce de déficits cognitivos ou disfunções motoras em pacientes com DP que podem se beneficiar de estratégias de reabilitação, facilitar avaliações de risco de queda e estratégias de prevenção de queda. Estudos prospectivos futuros são necessários para investigar os efeitos do treino cognitivo no desempenho motor, uma vez que a dificuldade na reabilitação motora pode estar mais relacionada à perda cognitiva do que aos prejuízos motores.

Palavras-chave:
doença de Parkinson; marcha; comprometimento cognitivo; equilíbrio; funções executivas

INTRODUCTION

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, which has cognitive impairment as a prevalent and debilitating non-motor symptom. Non-motor symptoms, such as disturbances of the autonomic nervous system, sleep disorders, depression, and cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders, can precede motor symptoms or appear throughout the disease, impacting the functional independence of the patient.11. Bennett JC, Gooldman L, editors. Cecil - Tratado de Medicina Interna. 21. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 2001.,22. Lees AJ, Hardy J, Revesz T. Parkinson’s disease. Lancet. 2009;373(9680):2055-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60492-X
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60...

Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies33. Arie L, Herman T, Shema-Shiratzky S, Giladi N, Hausdorff JM. Do cognition and other non-motor symptoms decline similarly among patients with Parkinson’s disease motor subtypes? Findings from a 5-year prospective study. J Neurol. 2017;264(10):2149-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8605-x
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8605-...
55. Guo Y, Liu F-T, Hou X-H, Li J-Q, Cao X-P, Tan L, et al. Predictors of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. J Neurol. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-09757-9
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-09757...
have reported that gait changes may be associated with cognitive impairment, particularly executive functions. Additional investigations have also revealed that slow gait speed predicted cognitive impairment and dementia.66. Savica R, Wennberg AM, Hagen C, Edwards K, Roberts RO, Hollman JH, et al. Comparison of Gait Parameters for Predicting Cognitive Decline: The Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2017;55(2):559-67. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-160697
https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-160697...
However, some studies have suggested that cognitive impairment preceded gait changes.77. Atkinson JD, Collins DL, Bertrand G, Peters TM, Pike GB, Sadikot AF. Optimal location of thalamotomy lesions for tremor associated with Parkinson disease: a probabilistic analysis based on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging and an integrated digital atlas. J Neurosurg. 2002;96(5):854-66. https://doi.org/10.3171/jns.2002.96.5.0854
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,88. Beauchet O, Allali G, Montero-Odasso M, Sejdić E, Fantino B, Annweiler C. Motor phenotype of decline in cognitive performance among community-dwellers without dementia: population-based study and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2014;9(6):e99318. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099318
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.009...

Studies that correlated the performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with motor tests have found a significant association with dexterity and mobility evaluated through the Purdue Pegboard Test and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Furthermore, although no correlation was found between the tremor dominant subtype and cognitive impairment, the postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD) subtype showed an association with lower performance on cognitive tests.99. Hu MTM, Szewczyk-Krolikowski K, Tomlinson P, Nithi K, Rolinski M, Murray C, et al. Predictors of cognitive impairment in an early stage Parkinson’s disease cohort. Mov Disord. 2014;29(3):351-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.25748
https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.25748...
1212. Zhu K, van Hilten JJ, Marinus J. Predictors of dementia in Parkinson’s disease; findings from a 5-year prospective study using the SCOPA-COG. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2014;20(9):980-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2014.06.006
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.201...

Associations between gait and cognition in PD indicate an influence of attention and executive functions on the gait pace and variability.1313. Morris R, Martini DN, Smulders K, Kelly VE, Zabetian CP, Poston K, et al. Cognitive associations with comprehensive gait and static balance measures in Parkinson’s disease. Park Relat Disord. 2019;69:104-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.06.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.201...
Another study1414. Mc Ardle R, Del Din S, Galna B, Thomas A, Rochester L. Differentiating dementia disease subtypes with gait analysis: feasibility of wearable sensors? Gait Posture. 2020;76:372-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.12.028
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019....
argues whether the impact of cognition on gait performance can be so specific that data collected by wearable devices can contribute to differentiating dementia subtypes.

Consistent findings have shown the limited ability of this population to cope with complex tasks that require cognitive demands, namely, recognizing and avoiding obstacles, dividing attention while walking.1515. Fernandez-Lago H, Bello O, Lopez-Alonso V, Sanchez JA, Morenilla L, Fernandez-del-Olmo MA. Gait Pattern and Cognitive Performance During Treadmill Walking in Parkinson Disease. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015;94(11):931-40. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000392
https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.000000000000...
The ability to plan and monitor gait adequately while dealing with cognitive overload, as well as when performing dual-tasking (DT), is impaired in this population.1616. Walton CC, Shine JM, Mowszowski L, Gilat M, Hall JM, O’Callaghan C, et al. Impaired cognitive control in Parkinson’s disease patients with freezing of gait in response to cognitive load. J Neural Transm. 2015;122(5):653-60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-014-1271-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-014-1271-...
1818. Schneider JS, Sendek S, Yang C. Relationship between Motor Symptoms, Cognition, and Demographic Characteristics in Treated Mild/Moderate Parkinson’s Disease. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0123231. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0123231
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.012...
Carrying out two tasks simultaneously is difficult for these individuals.1919. Hsiu-Chen C, Chiung-Chu C, Jiunn-Woei L, Wei-Da C, Yi-Hsin W, Ya-Ju C, et al. The effects of dual-task in patients with Parkinson’s disease performing cognitive-motor paradigms. J Clin Neurosci. 2020;72:72-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2020.01.024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2020.01.0...
Executive function deficit, mainly inhibitory control and mental flexibility, has been associated with gait impairment and freezing of gait (FOG).1111. Kelly VE, Johnson CO, McGough EL, Shumway-Cook A, Horak FB, Chung KA, et al. Association of cognitive domains with postural instability/gait disturbance in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2015;21(7):692-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.04.002
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.201...
,2020. Ortelli P, Ferrazzoli D, Cian V, Zarucchi M, Palamara G, Giobbia A, et al. How Cognition and Motivation “Freeze” the Motor Behavior in Parkinson’s Disease. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:1302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01302
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01302...
,2121. Walton CC, O’Callaghan C, Hall JM, Gilat M, Mowszowski L, Naismith SL, et al. Antisaccade errors reveal cognitive control deficits in Parkinson’s disease with freezing of gait. J Neurol. 2015;262(12):2745-54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7910-5
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7910-...
Another study revealed that gait and balance are related to specific cognitive skills, suggesting similar cerebral cortical circuitry for mobility and cognitive function.1313. Morris R, Martini DN, Smulders K, Kelly VE, Zabetian CP, Poston K, et al. Cognitive associations with comprehensive gait and static balance measures in Parkinson’s disease. Park Relat Disord. 2019;69:104-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.06.014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.201...

Cognitive control is essential for gait; cognitive issues are risk factors for poor gait performance, especially falls, consequently limiting the community participation in daily activities. Balance skills were significantly correlated with the ability to divide attention and the visuospatial ability in a recent study conducted by these authors.2222. Sousa NMF, Macedo RC. Relationship between cognitive performance and mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A cross-sectional study. Dement e Neuropsychol. 2019;13(4):403-9. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-57642018dn13-040006
https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-57642018dn1...
In addition, several investigations have reported that gait performance, risk of falling, freezing, and PD stage were strongly and significantly associated with DT.2323. Heinzel S, Maechtel M, Hasmann SE, Hobert MA, Heger T, Berg D, et al. Motor dual-tasking deficits predict falls in Parkinson’s disease: A prospective study. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2016;26:73-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.03.007
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.201...
,2424. Fuller RL, Van Winkle EP, Anderson KE, Gruber-Baldini AL, Hill T, Zampieri C, et al. Dual task performance in Parkinson’s disease: a sensitive predictor of impairment and disability. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2013;19(3):325-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2012.11.011
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.201...

Thus, the present study aimed to examine the association between cognitive ability, including global and specific cognitive functions (i.e., executive function, visuospatial ability, attention, language, and memory), and gait performance in PD patients. In this study, the characteristics of the sample assessed, that is, a homogeneous group as to cognitive profile (patients with mild cognitive impairment), as well as the sample size, contributed to the accuracy of the analyses.

METHODS

Participants

This is a cross-sectional study of 107 patients diagnosed with PD, according to the UK Brain Bank criteria.2525. Hughes AJ, Daniel SE, Kilford L, Lees AJ. Accuracy of clinical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease: a clinico-pathological study of 100 cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1992;55(3):181-4. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.55.3.181
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.55.3.181...
The subjects were part of an outpatient neurorehabilitation program at the SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals.

The inclusion criteria were: idiopathic PD patients aged over 50 years, more than 4 years of schooling, no psychiatric disorders before the PD diagnosis, as well as no history of substance use and abuse, absence of behavioral, motor, and/or sensory changes that may interfere with the performance of the cognitive tests (patients evaluated in the ON state, with no motor fluctuation during the assessment). Patients with moderate or severe depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory — BDI≥20),2626. Cunha J. Manual da versão em português das escalas Beck. São Paulo: Casa do Psicólogo; 2001. Hoehn and Yahr Scale (H&Y) stage IV, and dementia, according to the Movement Disorder Society guidelines,2727. Litvan I, Goldman JG, Tröster AI, Schmand BA, Weintraub D, Petersen RC, et al. Diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: Movement Disorder Society Task Force guidelines. Mov Disord. 2012;27(3):349-56. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.24893
https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.24893...
were excluded.

All participants signed the informed consent form. The local ethics committee approved this study.

Cognitive evaluation

The patients were evaluated on their global and specific cognitive functions by a neuropsychologist.

  • Digit Span Test (forward and backward) (Wechsler Memory Scale-revised — WMS-R):2828. Weschsler D. Manual for Weschsler Memory Scale-revised. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation; 1987. evaluates the immediate memory capacity and the ability to manipulate information.

  • Trail Making Test (TMT) — A and B:2929. Straus E, Sherman EMS, Spreen O. A compendium of neuropsychological tests: administration, norms, and commentary. 3. ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 2006. assesses visuomotor speed, selective attention, and mental flexibility.

  • Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-third version (ACE-III):3030. Matias-Guiu JA, Cortés-Martínez A, Valles-Salgado M, Rognoni T, Fernández-Matarrubia M, Moreno-Ramos T, et al. Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination III: diagnostic utility for mild cognitive impairment and dementia and correlation with standardized neuropsychological tests. Int Psychogeriatrics. 2016;29(1):105-13. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610216001496
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S104161021600149...
    focuses on the global score and subscores (attention/orientation, memory, verbal fluency, visuospatial ability, and language). The maximum score is 100.

Motor evaluation

  • 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT): measures walking speed in meters per second while the subject walks 10 meters. The participants were asked to walk at a comfortable pace.3131. Bohannon RW. Comfortable and maximum walking speed of adults aged 20-79 years: Reference values and determinants. Age Ageing. 1997;26(1):15-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/26.1.15
    https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/26.1.15...

  • Short version of the Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest): assesses balance through 14 tasks (anticipatory postural adjustments, reactive postural control, sensory orientation, gait, and dynamic balance). Each task is graded according to the performance on a 3-level ordinal scale (0–2), and the maximum score is 28 points in case of normal performance.3232. Virtuoso JF, Gregório LPP, Medeiros PA de, Mazo GZ. The "Timed Up and Go" in the prediction and explanation of falls in old people practicing physical exercises. Rev Bras Cineantropometria Desempenho Hum. 2014;16:381-9. https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2014v16n4p381
    https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2014v1...

  • Timed Up and Go Test (TUG test): evaluates mobility and balance, calculating the time that a person takes to rise from an armchair, walk three meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down in the chair. In the cognitive TUG, the individual performs the same motor task plus a second motor task or cognitive task concomitantly. In this study, subjects were asked to complete the TUG associated with mathematical tasks requested by the examiner.3333. Maia AC, Rodrigues-de-Paula F, Magalhães LC, Teixeira RLL. Cross-cultural adaptation and analysis of the psychometric properties of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test and MiniBESTest in the elderly and individuals with Parkinson’s disease: application of the Rasch model. Brazilian J Phys Ther. 2013;17(3):195-217. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-35552012005000085
    https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-3555201200...
    This test was scored following the same Mini-BESTest scale (0–2), according to the impact of the cognitive task on motor performance.

Data analysis

Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 22.0, was used for data analysis. Descriptive analysis of the study participants was expressed as mean and standard deviation (SD). Pearson’s correlation was applied to assess the association between gait parameters (speed, balance, and functional mobility) and cognitive scores (total and per domains). Some variables (such as age and disease duration and severity) could have skewed these results. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to minimize these effects. The probability level was set at 0.05 to determine significance.

RESULTS

Demographic and clinical characteristics

The study included 107 participants (79 male and 28 female). Among them, 84 had mild impairment (stages I–II of H&Y), that is, no patients had less severe disease. PD patients had an average disease duration of 5.5±4.1 years. Table 1 presents their demographic and clinical characteristics.

Table 1
Demographic and clinical characteristics of participants.

Cognitive and motor performance

Table 2 shows the descriptive data from cognitive and motor performance.

Table 2
Descriptive statistics of cognitive and motor tests.

Associations between gait and cognition

Significant associations were found between TUG scores and ACE-III total and domain scores, in addition to other neuropsychological tests, except for TMT-A errors (r=−0.0686, p=0.4827). The Mini-BESTest also demonstrated a significant correlation with cognitive measures. Correlations were identified between 10MWT and ACE-III total and memory scores, as well completion time for TMT-A and B (Table 3).

Table 3
Correlations between cognitive and motor variables.

Table 4 reveals that the ACE-III total score was associated with cognitive TUG (β=0.01918, p=0.009), disease severity (evaluated by H&Y), Mini-BESTest (β=−2.74613, p=0.000), and TUG (β=−0.25986, p=0.004).

Table 4
Multiple linear regression analysis.

Secondary analyses were carried out, with the formation of subgroups of aspects such as age and disease duration and severity, since these factors can interfere with the association between gait and cognition variables. The results were the same when correlated with the functional mobility test (TUG).

Table 5 indicates a significant correlation between the TUG test and several cognitive tasks, regardless of the sample stratification by the median. Regarding other motor tests (Mini-BESTest and 10MWT), the association was present in younger individuals and those whose disease diagnosis was more recent (shorter disease duration).

Table 5
Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Subgroup: Timed Up and Go Test.

DISCUSSION

The present study aimed to determine whether cognitive functions were associated with gait performance, mobility, and balance in idiopathic PD. The findings revealed that motor parameters were significantly related to cognitive skills, especially aspects connected to executive functions and global cognition, evidencing that balance ability and functional mobility were significantly correlated with the ability to divide attention between tasks performed at the same time, as found in similar research.1717. Varalta V, Picelli A, Fonte C, Amato S, Melotti C, Zatezalo V, et al. Relationship between Cognitive Performance and Motor Dysfunction in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:365959. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/365959
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/365959...
,1818. Schneider JS, Sendek S, Yang C. Relationship between Motor Symptoms, Cognition, and Demographic Characteristics in Treated Mild/Moderate Parkinson’s Disease. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0123231. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0123231
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.012...
This interaction has been identified in cognitive tests that assess mental flexibility (TMT-B and TMT B-A), attention (Digit Span forward), working memory (Digit Span backward), and functional mobility (cognitive TUG). The correlation between the simultaneous performance of a functional mobility activity and a mental task increased with cognitive dysfunction.

Cognitive decline, especially in executive functions, has been associated with gait disorders and risk of falling.1616. Walton CC, Shine JM, Mowszowski L, Gilat M, Hall JM, O’Callaghan C, et al. Impaired cognitive control in Parkinson’s disease patients with freezing of gait in response to cognitive load. J Neural Transm. 2015;122(5):653-60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-014-1271-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-014-1271-...
,2020. Ortelli P, Ferrazzoli D, Cian V, Zarucchi M, Palamara G, Giobbia A, et al. How Cognition and Motivation “Freeze” the Motor Behavior in Parkinson’s Disease. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:1302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01302
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01302...
The association between executive functions and bradykinesia has been reported in individuals with PD,33. Arie L, Herman T, Shema-Shiratzky S, Giladi N, Hausdorff JM. Do cognition and other non-motor symptoms decline similarly among patients with Parkinson’s disease motor subtypes? Findings from a 5-year prospective study. J Neurol. 2017;264(10):2149-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8605-x
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8605-...
,1818. Schneider JS, Sendek S, Yang C. Relationship between Motor Symptoms, Cognition, and Demographic Characteristics in Treated Mild/Moderate Parkinson’s Disease. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0123231. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0123231
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.012...
as well as the correlation between the ability to divide attention between two tasks and balance.3030. Matias-Guiu JA, Cortés-Martínez A, Valles-Salgado M, Rognoni T, Fernández-Matarrubia M, Moreno-Ramos T, et al. Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination III: diagnostic utility for mild cognitive impairment and dementia and correlation with standardized neuropsychological tests. Int Psychogeriatrics. 2016;29(1):105-13. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610216001496
https://doi.org/10.1017/S104161021600149...

A study that researched the relationship between cognition, emotion, and motor function found that those who presented higher freezing rates had worse performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, TMT-A, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, indicating an association with tests of executive functions and attention/processing speed.2020. Ortelli P, Ferrazzoli D, Cian V, Zarucchi M, Palamara G, Giobbia A, et al. How Cognition and Motivation “Freeze” the Motor Behavior in Parkinson’s Disease. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:1302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01302
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01302...

A previous investigation showed a correlation between a functional mobility motor test (TUG) and cognition. However, no correlation between cognitive variables and gait speed test was found. After increasing the sample, the 10MWT also demonstrated a significant association with some cognitive variables, suggesting that impaired cognitive function might be related to slower gait speed. TUG continued to be the motor test with the best correlation, followed by the Mini-BESTest.2222. Sousa NMF, Macedo RC. Relationship between cognitive performance and mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A cross-sectional study. Dement e Neuropsychol. 2019;13(4):403-9. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-57642018dn13-040006
https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-57642018dn1...

As real-world activities usually involve the combination of motor and cognitive tasks, the performance of the TUG test with a cognitive task has been chosen as a more sensitive outcome measure to predict the risk of falling. Thus, the cognitive TUG test has been recommended as an essential outcome measure to evaluate mobility and risk of falling.3434. Maranhão-Filho PA, Maranhão ET, Lima MA, Silva MM da. Rethinking the neurological examination II: dynamic balance assessment. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2011;69(6):959-63. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x2011000700022
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x201100...
Moreover, a retrospective cohort study of individuals with PD investigated the impact of adding a task (manual or cognitive) to the TUG test and concluded that it increases the responsiveness of the test in detecting the risk of falling.3535. Vance RC, Healy DG, Galvin R, French HP. Dual tasking with the timed “up & go” test improves detection of risk of falls in people with Parkinson disease. Phys Ther. 2015;95(1):95-102. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20130386
https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20130386...
Therefore, the role played by attention skills in safety, effectiveness, and independence during the performance of motor tasks is evident, especially when multiple stimuli are competing with this activity, which is usual when it comes to community participation.

The present results are consistent with a previous cross-sectional study that also reports an association between changes in gait and cognitive decline.1414. Mc Ardle R, Del Din S, Galna B, Thomas A, Rochester L. Differentiating dementia disease subtypes with gait analysis: feasibility of wearable sensors? Gait Posture. 2020;76:372-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.12.028
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019....
,2020. Ortelli P, Ferrazzoli D, Cian V, Zarucchi M, Palamara G, Giobbia A, et al. How Cognition and Motivation “Freeze” the Motor Behavior in Parkinson’s Disease. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:1302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01302
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01302...

Finally, this research offers some ideas for the assessment, referral, and holistic treatment of PD patients, since the individual who seeks the medical or physical therapy service with gait and mobility deficits may be eligible for a cognitive assessment and personalized rehabilitation program that covers not only the motor aspects. This interdisciplinary and biopsychosocial approach is also acknowledged in two recent meta-analyses.3636. Baiano C, Barone P, Trojano L, Santangelo G. Prevalence and clinical aspects of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: A meta-analysis. Mov Disord. 2020;35(1):45-54. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.27902
https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.27902...
,3737. Miller KJ, Suárez-Iglesias D, Seijo-Martínez M, Ayán C. Physiotherapy for freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Neurol. 2019;70(4):161-9. https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.7005.2019417
https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.7005.2019417...

This study has several strengths: neuropsychological evaluation with standardized cognitive measures, patients with similar cognitive characteristics (mild cognitive impairment), motor assessment through a quantitative tool. It also has some limitations, such as evaluating only gait speed, without other measures like cadence and single or double support time.

In conclusion, the present findings suggest the critical role played by divided attention, visuospatial ability, and mental flexibility in the gait of PD patients. Thus, individuals with impaired mobility should not only be evaluated by a neuropsychologist but also have a personalized rehabilitation plan involving motor and cognitive training, when possible.

  • This study was conducted at the Rede SARAH de Hospitais de Reabilitação – Reabilitação Neurológica, Unidade de Salvador, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
  • Funding: none.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    09 Apr 2021
  • Date of issue
    Jan-Mar 2021

History

  • Received
    21 May 2020
  • Accepted
    26 Oct 2020
Academia Brasileira de Neurologia, Departamento de Neurologia Cognitiva e Envelhecimento R. Vergueiro, 1353 sl.1404 - Ed. Top Towers Offices, Torre Norte, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, CEP 04101-000, Tel.: +55 11 5084-9463 | +55 11 5083-3876 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revistadementia@abneuro.org.br | demneuropsy@uol.com.br