Neuropsychological study in patients with Parkinson's disease: the effects of deep brain stimulation

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disorder whose clinical manifestations are observed in the motor and neuropsychological domain and have an impact on the patient's quality of life. Several scientific studies evidence the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation as treatment for the motor symptoms, but further research is required on the neuropsychological symptoms. To analyse the existence of significant differences in neuropsychological processes, such as attention, memory, language, visuoperception and the executive functions in patients with PD prior to and following deep brain stimulation. Our sample consisted of 20 patients of both sexes, aged 50-70 years, with PD, who were treated by healthcare service providers in Medellin. These subjects were administered the Continuous Performance Test and the Trail Making Test in order to assess attention, the Rey Complex Figure and Ardila memory tests to evaluate memory, the Boston and verbal fluency tests to assess language, the Rey Complex Figure Copy test for visuoperception, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test to appraise the executive functions. There are significant differences between the scores before and after deep brain stimulation in patients with PD on attention and memory. Knowledge of these findings is relevant for the neuropsychological therapy of patients with PD.