MDS Task Force on mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: critical review of PD-MCI

Mov Disord. 2011 Aug 15;26(10):1814-24. doi: 10.1002/mds.23823. Epub 2011 Jun 9.

Abstract

There is controversy regarding the definition and characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. The Movement Disorder Society commissioned a Task Force to critically evaluate the literature and determine the frequency and characteristics of Parkinson's disease-mild cognitive impairment and its association with dementia. A comprehensive PubMed literature review was conducted using systematic inclusion and exclusion criteria. A mean of 26.7% (range, 18.9%-38.2%) of nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease have mild cognitive impairment. The frequency of Parkinson's disease-mild cognitive impairment increases with age, disease duration, and disease severity. Impairments occur in a range of cognitive domains, but single domain impairment is more common than multiple domain impairment, and within single domain impairment, nonamnestic is more common than amnestic impairment. A high proportion of patients with Parkinson's disease-mild cognitive impairment progress to dementia in a relatively short period of time. The primary conclusions of the Task Force are that: (1) Parkinson's disease-mild cognitive impairment is common, (2) there is significant heterogeneity within Parkinson's disease-mild cognitive impairment in the number and types of cognitive domain impairments, (3) Parkinson's disease-mild cognitive impairment appears to place patients at risk of progressing to dementia, and (4) formal diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease-mild cognitive impairment are needed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cognitive Dysfunction / diagnosis*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*