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Abstract

A total of 52 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 11 with presumptive Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 20 healthy subjects were studied; subjects were aged 55-74 years. Neurological symptoms were assessed quantitatively, and the state of higher mental processes were evaluated using the Luriya method. A number of memory tests were also used. These studies showed that PD was almost always accompanied by memory impairment exceeding the age norm. The major mechanism for memory impairment in PD without dementia was inadequate independent organization of memory-related activity at the memorizing and retrieval stages. In PD with dementia, there was also a primary impairment. Differences in memory impairments were found in PD with dementia (deeper derangements of involuntary memory and of information processing during memorizing). Impairments of consolidation of traces were more dependent on the age at onset of PD, while inadequacy of independent organization of memory-related activity was more dependent on disease duration. Most memory parameters in PD correlated with the severity of disturbances in gait and postural reflexes. It is suggested that memory impairment in PD is a manifestation of the major pathological process, which shows a number of differences from other neurogeriatric diseases.

Mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: Subtypes and motor characteristics

“…This variance may represent differences in the definition of MCI (statistical cut-offs vs. clinical determination of impairment), measurements used, and/or population characteristics. On the other hand, some previous studies of early cognitive dysfunction in PD have documented similar high rates of memory dysfunction [27]. The fact that in our study memory disturbance was largely accompanied by executive dysfunction may suggest that PD memory impairment is secondary to executive difficulties.…”

The Nature and Scope of Stressful Spousal Caregiving Relationships

“…Studies indicate AD caregiving relationships are stressful (Martire, Lustig, Schulz, Miller & Helgeson, 2004; McClendon, Smyth & Neundorfer, 2004; Schulz & Martire, 2004; Quinn, Clare & Woods, 2009; Vitaliano, Zhang, & Scanlan, 2003). Parkinson’s disease (PD), exemplified by both progressive movement disorders as well as non-motor neuropsychiatric symptoms, afflicts more than 1.5 million older adults United States (Van Den Eeden, Tanner, Bernstein, Robin, & Fross, 2003) and places unique demands on informal caregivers to cope with complex medication regimens, increasing mobility limitations and, for 20% or more of PD care recipients, profound cognitive loss as well (Zakharov, Akhutina & Yakhno, 2001). An increasing number of PD study reports indicate that PD caregivers are particularly stressed by caregiving (Aarsland, Larsen, Karlsen, Lim & Tandberg, 1999; Hooker, Manoogian-O’Dell, Monahan, Frazier, & Shifren, 2000; Roland, Jenkins & Johnson, 2009; Lyons, Stewart, Archbold, & Carter, 2009).…”

The effect of interference on temporal order memory in individuals with Parkinson’s disease

“…Although previous research has shown temporal order memory to be impaired in PD (Dubois & Pillon, 1997; Sagar et al, 1988; Taylor et al, 1986; Zakharov et al, 2001), this is the first study, to the authors’ knowledge, to examine the effect of interference on temporal order memory in PD. The findings provide novel insight into a processing deficit that may have an impact on multiple cognitive functions and the execution of various daily living skills in individuals with PD.…”

“…Evidence from previous studies indicates that temporal order memory is impaired in individuals with PD (Dubois & Pillon, 1997; Sagar et al, 1988; Taylor et al, 1986; Zakharov et al, 2001). Zakharov and colleagues (2001) found that individuals with PD were impaired on the sequential ordering portion of a memory test.…”

“…Zakharov and colleagues (2001) found that individuals with PD were impaired on the sequential ordering portion of a memory test. A study by Taylor and colleagues (1986) showed that PD participants experienced difficulty with the order-dependent portion of a memory task, yet preformed normally on the item-dependent portions.…”