The correlation between possible RBD and cognitive function in Parkinson's disease patients in China

• Main Authors: Ya‐yun Yan, Ke Lei, Yuan‐yuan Li, Xiu‐feng Liu, Ying Chang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2019-05-01
• Series: Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.747

Abstract Objective Cognitive impairment is an important symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) and seriously affects patients’ quality of life and prognosis. However, its cause is still uncertain. In about one‐third of patients, PD is associated with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), which is an independent risk factor for PD‐associated dementia; but whether or not it relates to the cognitive function of patients with nondemented PD is still controversial. Methods The data from 89 enrolled PD patients were retrospectively analyzed. The RBD Questionnaire Hong‐Kong (RBD‐HK) was used to diagnose possible RBD (pRBD). There are 46 patients with possible RBD (the PD‐pRBD) and 43 without (the PD‐npRBD). PD disease severity, neuropsychological function, overall cognitive function, and various cognitive functions were assessed. Results There were significant between‐group differences in scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Digit Symbol Test (DST), Trail Making Test‐A (TMT‐A)‐Time, TMT‐Trail Making Test‐B (TMT‐B)‐Time, Stroop Color‐word Test, Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Boston Naming Test (BNT), Verbal Fluency Test (fruit), etc. (P < 0.05). Interpretation Patients in the PD‐pRBD group had more cognitive impairment.