The study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA-TR) as a screening tool for cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 50 patients with PD and 50 healthy controls were included. The screening instruments-MoCA-TR followed by the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE-TR) and MoCA-TR retest within 1 month-and detailed neuropsychological testing were administered to the PD patients. MoCA-TR and MMSE-TR were also administered to controls. The discriminant validities of the MoCA-TR and MMSE-TR as screening and diagnostic instruments were ascertained. The concurrent and criterion validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency of the MoCA-TR and MMSE-TR were examined. The Cronbach's alpha of the MoCA-TR as an index of internal consistency was 0.664, and the test-retest reliability of MoCA-TR was 0.742. With a cut-off score of < 21 points, the MoCA-TR showed sensitivity of 59% and specificity of 89% in the detection of cognitive dysfunction in PD. The area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (95% confidence interval) for MoCA-TR was 0.794 (0.670-0.918), p<.001. The present results indicated that the MoCA-TR has acceptable psychometric properties and it should be used to assess mild cognitive impairment and early dementia in PD patients, whereas the MMSE-TR should remain the instrument of choice to assess cognitive impairment in PD dementia.

Parkinson's disease (PD) decreases the quality of life (QoL) of both caregivers and patients by increasing stress and burden, and it has a negative impact on their psychological state. In the present study, the authors examined the impact of PD-patient motor and non-motor clinical symptoms on the psychological health, burden, and QoL of Turkish caregivers. The study included 50 patients with PD and their caregivers. Patients' disease severity and disability, motor and non-motor symptoms, disease complications, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed with various scales. Data were analyzed by multiple linear-regression models to identify variables associated with caregiver burden, psychological status, and QoL. Anxiety and depressive symptoms exhibited by the patients significantly affected the psychological state of the caregivers. Caregiver burden was increased by disease severity; the patient's degree of disability, anxiety, and depressive symptoms; and excessive daytime sleepiness. Caregiver QoL was significantly affected by the presence of dyskinesia, sialorrhea, and anxiety symptoms in patients with PD. These findings indicate that caregiving for patients with PD, particularly those in later stages, with psychiatric symptoms, affects caregiver psychological status, QoL, and caregiver burden. These results can be used to develop treatment approaches to improve caregivers' psychological status and QoL and decrease caregiver burden.

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