Open AccessCognition and transcranial sonography in Parkinson's disease patients with or without orthostatic hypotension
Author(s) -
Wu Jiajing,
Jin Hong,
Shao Yingqi,
Mao Chengjie,
Chen Jing,
Liu Chunfeng
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.2252
Subject(s) - orthostatic vital signs , parkinson's disease , medicine , cognition , transcranial doppler , disease , cognitive decline , physical medicine and rehabilitation , cardiology , dementia , blood pressure , psychiatry
Background Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common nonmotor symptom in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), with an incidence ranging from 14% to 54%. Aims This study explored changes in cognition and transcranial sonography (TCS) findings in patients with PD and OH. Methods We enrolled PD patients who visited the outpatient or inpatient department from 2017 to 2020. Blood pressure was measured in different positions, and demographic data were collected. Motor and nonmotor symptoms were evaluated using standard scales. A subset of 107 patients underwent TCS. Results We enrolled 66 PD‐OH patients and 92 PD‐no orthostatic hypotension (NOH) patients. There were no significant differences in gender, age, disease duration, or Hoehn and Yahr stage between groups. Binary logistic regression revealed age as an independent risk factor for OH in PD patients. There were statistically significant group differences in visuospatial and executive function and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) I and II scores ( p < .05). Among PD‐OH patients, there was a statistically significant difference in UPDRS II and III scores between patients with or without clinical symptoms ( p < .05). The substantia nigra (SN) area was significantly larger in PD‐NOH patients (0.45 ± 0.18 cm 2 ) than PD‐OH patients (0.34 ± 0.16 cm 2 ) ( p < .05). Conclusions PD‐OH patients had poorer visuospatial and executive function and lower UPDRS I and II scores compared with PD‐NOH patients. Within the PD‐OH group, there was no significant difference in cognition between patients with or without clinical symptoms. The difference in the SN area may indicate different subtypes of PD or a tendency to develop parkinsonism syndrome.