Presentation and Interpretation of Neurocognitive Deficits of a Young Female Patient With Parkinson's Disease

1. Abstract In Cognitive Neuropsychology, data from case studies are used to create models, to draw conclusions about the functional characteristics of normal intellect, and to explore deficient and intact mental abilities. The results of case studies have become equally reliable data through which a theory is supported or not. Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases with an average incidence of about 200 / 100,000. The frequency depends on age, as up to the age of 40 it does not exceed 3-4 / 100,000 while from the age of 70 onwards it exceeds 50 / 100,000. The present study examines the cognitive deficits of a 42-year-old woman diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. 1.1. Αim: To describe the cognitive deficits of a young woman with Parkinson's disease. The clinical picture, laboratory findings, pathogenesis and the neuropsychological assessment process are discussed. At the same time, the relevant literature is reviewed. 1.2. Results: Disorders in image design and line orientation were observed and a decrease in visual attention and spatial perception. The patient also had a functional or working memory disorder resulting in difficulty concentrating and spontaneously retaining a series of procedural sequences to perform specific tasks, which reflects possible underlying prefrontal dysfunction. 1.3. Conclusions: There are cases of patients with Parkinson's disease who present with mild cognitive impairment. This patient seemed to have developed effective replenishment and adaptation strategies, her deficits mainly concerning executive functions, visual-spatial functions, memory and speech. Parkinson's disease is associated with a variety of cognitive impairments even in the early stages, and these cognitive deficits may not be apparent and can only be detected by appropriate neuropsychological tests. The deficits are mainly related to the insufficient use of the memory stores and the manifestation of a "dysfunctional" syndrome. This evolving "syndrome" concerns memory disorders and accompanying various disorders in executive functions, visual-spatial functions and speech, without the presence of aphasia, ignorance, or inactivity. 2. Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with dysfunction or loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain, lack of dopamine, and the formation of abnormal Lewy Bodies protein particles in neurons. It is an idiopathic disease of the nervous system, characterized by motor and non-motor manifestations. The disease has been described since 1817 by James Parkinson. It is associated with significant disability and low quality of life. 3. Predisposing Factors Age is one of the most important risk factors, although 10% of people with the disease are under 45 years old. Other risk factors include a family history of Parkinson's disease, exposure to pesticides and other environmental factors. According to some studies, non-smokers are twice as likely to develop the disease, as postmenopausal women and men who consume low levels of caffeine