A dopamine agonist, pramipexole, and cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease

The role of the dopaminergic system in mood, motivation and cognition in Parkinson's disease: A double blind randomized placebo-controlled experimental challenge with pramipexole and methylphenidate

“…Another study indicates a slight worsening of cognitive functioning in patients with mild PD after a mean dose of 3.9 ± 1.2 mg for one month [46]. Relja and Klepac conclude that 6 months of 3 ± 0.5 mg pramipexole does not affect cognitive functioning when used as add-on therapy to levodopa [47]. Altogether, these results do not contradict our findings and support the conclusion that in early PD both pramipexole and methylphenidate do not affect cognitive functioning.…”

Quantification of pramipexole in human plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using tamsulosin as internal standard

“…Moreover, in contrast to the ergot dopamine agonists traditionally used to treat Parkinsons's disease, pramipexole fully stimulates the dopamine receptors it binds to; the ergots only partially activate these receptors (Piercey et al, 1996). Clinical trails with pramipexole as monotherapy and as an adjunct to levodopa have shown the compound to be safe, well tolerated, and efficacious (Relja and Klepac, 2006;Wright et al, 1997).…”

Decoding emotional prosody in Parkinson's disease and its potential neuropsychological basis

“…Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that performing the Stroop test again involves dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, but also the anterior cingulate (to which basal ganglia thalamocortical loops also project; MacLeod & MacDonald, 2000). Patients with Parkinson's disease have previously been shown to exhibit inferior performance on the original cognitive Stroop test relative to healthy controls (Relja & Klepac, 2006). To test generalizability across frontal lobe executive functions, cognitive and emotional Stroop interference paradigms were included.…”