Dementia in Parkinson's Disease: A Clinical Review

Abstract

Problem statement: Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (PD) has being increasingly seen as a neuropsychiatric entity and no longer purely neurological, given the frequency and exuberance with which the psychiatric manifestations occurs. Approach: This review will focus on the epidemiology, clinical aspects, differential diagnosis with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) associated with parkinsonism, Dementia with Lewy Bodies (LBD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Vascular Parkinsonism and normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPN), underlying mechanisms and treatment of dementia in PD. A literature review of the studies that investigated the dementia in PD was performed. Results: The dementia in PD has being increasingly recognized as a distinct nosological entity. Although specific etiologies for cognitive impairment remain unknown, a symptomatic treatment has been approved and strategies for early intervention are envisioned. Conclusion: Larger scale, placebo controlled clinical trials are needed to be explored in future studies to provide an evidence base to guide the management in dementia associated with PD.