Neurobehavioral Disorders associated with Parkinson’s Disease
1Department of Behavioral Health, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, TX 79920, USA
2Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
3Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
4University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32806, USA
Neurobehavioral Disorders associated with Parkinson’s Disease
Description
It is well recognized that Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with changes in higher cognitive functions. For example, PD is frequently associated with a decline in executive function as well as changes in memory and visual-spatial ability. Moreover, these changes in cognitive function can occur independently of a global cognitive decline, with the clinical course of these cognitive changes presenting quite distinctly from that of Parkinson's dementia. However, much remains to be learned about these cognitive changes in PD. For example, it is well known that PD predominantly affects dopaminergic function resulting in motor dysfunction and impacting frontal, cortical, and basal ganglia connections, thus affecting frontal executive functions. However, PD also affects other neurotransmitter systems, including norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, and it is unclear how changes in these neurotransmitter systems affect cognitive function in PD. It is also well recognized that the initial cognitive effects in PD typically involve frontal executive functions. However, it is not entirely clear how these executive deficits affect or interact with other domains of cognitive function. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Cognitive and emotional changes that occur in PD
- Changes in cognitive or emotional function related to pharmacological or surgical interventions
- The influence of other neurotransmitters on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral function in PD
- Changes in cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral function associated with the progression of Parkinson's plus syndromes
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