Normal Lifespan in Parkinson Disease with Early Normal Cognition

A population-based study suggests that patients who have PD without early dementia do not have the reduced lifespan of other PD patients.

A Swedish group examined 182 patients diagnosed with incident Parkinson disease (PD) or parkinsonism to assess risk factors for early mortality. The population-based study drew from an area with 142,000 residents. Study participants had standardized testing and were followed for up to 13.5 years.

Of the 182 patients, 109 died during the follow-up. The standardized mortality ratio for all patients was 1.84, significantly higher than the general population. Patients with mild cognitive impairment and PD at baseline had a significant 2.4 times higher age-adjusted hazard of death during follow-up than PD patients without mild cognitive impairment at baseline. Diagnoses of atypical parkinsonism conferred the highest mortality. Features at PD diag…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)