Parkinson's Disease Increases Risk of Dementia

A recent study shows that by it may now be possible to identify symptoms experienced by first-stage Parkinson's patients who will go on to develop dementia, according to researchers at the Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal.

Lead study author Dr. Oury Monchi, Ph.D., and postdoctoral student, Dr. Alexandru Hangau, M.D., Ph.D., both of whom are affiliated with the university, set out to determine certain risk factors that may indicate such issues.

As Parkinson's disease is generally associated with motor problems including trembling or rigidity, people with this disease are a six times greater risk to develop dementia than the rest of the population, according to background information from the study.

This longitudinal study examined 32 patients during their first stages of Parkinson's disease over a span of 20 months. While some of the patients showed symptoms of mild cognitive impairment, others did not. A control group of 18 healthy individuals also were involved in the study.

"Using magnetic resonance imaging, we found thinning in certain cortical areas as well as subcortical atrophy in the grey matter of subjects with mild cognitive impairments. Thanks to our longitudinal approach, we were able to observe that this thinning speeds up in conjunction with the increase in cognitive problems," explained Dr. Monchi, via a press release. He notes that this specific brain deterioration combined with early signs of congitive impairments could serve as markers for the development of dementia. 

"This study opens the door to further research, for example, on medication or on non-pharmacological approaches such as transcranial magnetic stimulation," he adds, via the release. "It's important for these patients to be identified very quickly before they develop dementia so that a therapeutic approach can be adapted to their specific needs."

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Brain.