The Effect of Cognitive Functions on Upper Extremity Functionality in Parkinson's Patients
Condition: Parkinson; Cognitive Impairment; Upper Extremity Problem; Functional Disturbance
MeSH terms: Parkinson Disease
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Parkinson's Disease (PD), first described by James Parkinson in 1817, is a progressive
      movement disorder that develops mainly as a result of the destruction of nigrostriatal
      dopaminergic neurons. The aim of our study is to determine the effect of cognitive functions
      on upper extremity functionality in individuals with Parkinson's Disease.
    

Detailed description: 
      Parkinson's Disease (PD), first described by James Parkinson in 1817, is a progressive
      movement disorder that develops mainly as a result of the destruction of nigrostriatal
      dopaminergic neurons. Involvement of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons is associated with
      the motor manifestations of the disease. The most common of these symptoms are; resting
      tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and balance disorder. However, non-motor symptoms related to
      the involvement of nervous system structures other than the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system
      can be observed in PD. However, due to the predominance of motor symptoms in PD, it took many
      years to notice cognitive changes. Traditionally, cognitive impairments in PD have been
      expected to occur in the advanced stages of the disease. However, cognitive impairments in
      the early stages are reported in approximately 30-35% of patients. Cognitive dysfunction is
      defined in PD, ranging from mild impairments in certain cognitive domains to severe dementia.
      Cognitive impairment primarily affects executive and visuospatial functions, and memory is
      secondarily affected.

      Executive functions are higher cognitive processes that use and modify information from many
      cortical sensory systems in the fore and hindbrain areas to modulate and teach behavior. The
      frontal cortex, especially the prefrontal cortex and its striatal connections are very
      important neuroanatomical regions for executive functions. The relationship between the
      effects of cognition and motor performance and parameters in groups such as the elderly, PD
      and Alzheimer's patients in which these centers are affected has been an issue that has
      attracted the attention of many researchers. Most of the studies have focused on the lower
      extremity performance of cognition. However , it has been reported that cognition has
      positive effects on upper extremity performance and early acquired upper extremity skills
      have positive effects on cognitive performance .

      The aim of our study is to determine the effect of cognitive functions on upper extremity
      functionality in individuals with Parkinson's Disease.
    

Intervention name(s): clinical assessment
Intervention type(s): Diagnostic Test
Intervention description(s): clinical staging
Other intervention name(s): modifiye hoehn yahr
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: patient and age-gender matched healthy groups
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Other
Keywords: Parkinson; Cognitive function; Upper extremity