Nobili et al. (2011)

14/27

N = 47

de novo PD

n = 26 (6M, 15F)

Age matched controls

n = 21 (12M, 14F)

de novo PD

68.9 ± 4.9

Controls 71.9 ± 5.9

Not reported

Section III:

12.7 ± 5.0

Drug naive

Dementia excluded

-Executive function directly correlated with perfusion in B/L posterior cingulate cortex & LAH precuneus in de novo (drug naïve) persons with PD

-Verbal memory directly correlated with perfusion in precuneus, inferior parietal lobule & superior temporal gyrus in LAH in de novo persons with PD

Key points:

-Points to more prominent role of posterior cingulate and parietal cortices in executive dysfunction seen in persons with PD, disputing theory involvement of only frontal lobes in executive dysfunction

-Executive function and verbal memory correlated with perfusion in posterior brain areas where dopaminergic nerve endings are less present

Peralta et al. (2007)

12/27

N = 18

PD

n = 10

PDD

n = 8

(sex not reported)

PD:

74.1 ± 4.8

PDD 77.3 ± 7.5

Total Mean

2.5

PD Mean

2.1 (1.8 - 2.4)

PDD mean

2.9 (2.6 - 3.5)

Section

I - V:

Examined but not reported

Clinical Exam-OFF

Neuro-psych interview & executive function tests-ON

Criteria: included in development of dementia at least 1 year after onset of PD sxs, MMSE Score < 24

-During tilt significant decrease in attention scores for persons with PDD (TEA-2 & TEA-3; p < 0.005)

-During tilt, increase in scores of attention for persons with PD

-During supine, word fluency scores reduced in persons with PDD compared to persons with PD however no significant change of word fluency scores among both groups with OH BP changes

-Significant correlation between orthostatic changes in BP & attention scores in persons with PDD (p < 0.05) and persons with PD (p < 0.05)

Key points:

-Correlation between orthostatic BP changes during tilt contributes to theories stating cognitive dysfunction is due to chronic arterial hypotension

-Maintaining BP measurements close to normal may improve cognitive functioning in persons with PDD.

Pilleri et al. (2013)

14/27

N = 48

OH+

n = 23 (13M, 10F)

OH−

n = 25 (13M, 12F)

OH+ 64.96 ± 9.7

OH− 65.6 ± 8.7

Total Mean 2.71

OH+ mean 2.65 ± 0.6

OH− mean 2.76 ± 0.5

Section III:

Total mean

37.6

OH+ mean 37.83 ± 15.1

OH− mean

37.36 ± 12.8

Tilt table testing- performed at least 2 hours after last levodopa administration

Cognitive Assessment- medication use not reported

Not reported

-No person with PD in OH− group presented with SH

-OH+ group scored lower on sustained attention (AttM; p = 0.03), working memory (Corsi Test; p = 0.004), and verbal memory-delayed recall (RAVLT; p = 0.02) compared to OH− group

-Differences in working memory & verbal memory-delayed recall preserved when persons with MMSE < 24 were removed from analysis

-Both symptomatic & asymptomatic persons in OH+ group scored similar on all neuropsychological testing

Key points:

-Relationship between OH and cognitive deficits that cannot be attributed to cerebrovascular damage (no difference in vascular burden between OH+ and OH− groups)