AUTHOR=Hou Miaomiao , Hou Xiaojun , Qiu Yiqing , Wang Jiali , Zhang Mingyang , Mao Xiaowei , Wu Xi 

TITLE=Characteristics of Cognitive Impairment and Their Relationship With Total Cerebral Small Vascular Disease Score in Parkinson’s Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2022.884506

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2022.884506

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=Background: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of cognitive dysfunctions and their relationship with total cerebral small vascular disease (CSVD) in Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Methods: A total of 174 idiopathic PD patients who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were recruited. Demographic information, vascular disease risk factors, motor function (MDS-UPDRS III score), and cognitive level (MoCA, MMSE) were collected for these patients. The total CSVD burden was scored based on lacunes, enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), high-grade white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) for each subject. 
Results: Cognitive scores on MoCA for language, delayed recall, and orientation were significantly reduced in PD patients with CSVD burden ≥1 than in those with CSVD burden= 0. Educational level, PDQ 39, and CSVD burden were significantly associated with MoCA scores in individuals with PD. For the whole group, the full model accounted for 33.6% variation in total MoCA scores. In which, CSVD burden explained 2.7% of the results, and the detection of lacunes, WMH, EPVS, and strictly lobar CMBs were significantly correlated with MoCA scores. The stability of the outcomes was confirmed by sensitivity analysis.
Conclusion: CSVD can independently contribute to cognitive decline in PD and cause damage in specific cognitive domains. Promoting neurovascular health may help preserve cognitive functions in PD.