Original

Specific alterations in attention in the early stages of Parkinson s disease

E. Alonso-Prieto, E.M. Esteban, C. Trujillo-Matienzo, G.E. Lara-Fernández, T. Roussó-Viota, A. Cordero-Eiriz [REV NEUROL 2003;36:1015-1018] PMID: 12808494 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.3611.2002549

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Volumen 36 | Number 11 | Nº of views of the article 7.085 | Nº of PDF downloads 1.408 | Article publication date 01/06/2003

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ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION The cognitive disorders presented by patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have drawn attention to the role played by the basal ganglia in cognition. It has been suggested that through a system of cortico-subcortical circuits they monitor the work done by the frontal regions by guiding the anterior and posterior attentional systems, whose functioning is necessary for the so-called executive functions to be carried out.

PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied 10 patients with PD in developmental stages I and II according to the scale of Hoehn and Yahr, and 10 healthy paired controls. All of them were administered a test for simple sustained attention, complex sustained attention and attentional shift.

RESULTS In the simple sustained attention task there were no significant differences between groups. In the complex sustained attention test the patients committed more mistakes, and in the attentional shift task they committed more omissions and there was a significant increase in reaction time.

CONCLUSIONS Even in the early stages of the disease, patients suffering from Parkinson present cognitive disorders. These are concentrated in the detection and evaluation of new information, in the capability to shift attention between different spatial regions in a flexible manner and in choosing, inhibiting and activating motor programmes. In order to detect these alterations more sensitive and complex tests must be used. KeywordsAttentional system Cognition Parkinson’s disease Sustained attention CategoriesNeurodegeneración Neuropsicología Trastornos del movimiento

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Original

Specific alterations in attention in the early stages of Parkinson s disease