Memory & Thinking Changes

Thinking and memory problems are among the most worrisome potential Parkinson's symptoms. Given their significant impact on function and quality of life, understanding and treating the range of cognitive changes in Parkinson's is a top priority for researchers.

Cognitive Changes

Thinking and memory (cognitive) symptoms are are common in Parkinson's, but not everyone experiences them. In some people, they are mild and don't impact work or daily activities. This is called "mild cognitive impairment." In others, they are more significant and affect the everyday activities of both the person experiencing them and their care partner. This is classified as "dementia." There are different aspects of thinking and memory, and people with Parkinson's most commonly notice difficulty with:

Paying attention or concentrating
examples: reading a book, participating in group conversations
Multitasking and problem solving (executive function)
examples: juggling multiple ongoing projects, figuring out solutions such as how to reroute through a traffic jam or what to do for dinner when you have no ingredients on hand
Seeing information three dimensionally (visuospatial skills)
examples: making a mental map to walk around the neighborhood and back, judging distance between your car and the one in front of you while driving

No matter when and how significantly Parkinson’s affects cognition, it tends to impact attention and executive function more than memory.

Get more information and tips on thinking and memory changes.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a change in thinking or memory that is more than expected with normal aging but is not enough to interfere with a person’s daily activities. People with MCI may feel distracted or disorganized or lose their train of thought. They might find it more challenging to concentrate or manage multiple tasks at once.

As with all Parkinson’s symptoms, treatment of MCI is individualized. Doctors typically recommend that you keep your brain active and work with an occupational therapist, speech therapist or cognitive rehabilitation specialist to strengthen cognitive skills and manage your specific challenges. (Your physician can refer you to one of these experts.) Your doctor also will look for and treat any medical condition, such as a urinary tract infection, depression or sleep problem, which could potentially worsen cognition. (See: Testing.) At the current time, there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications to treat mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's, but research in this area is ongoing.

Estimates vary, but approximately 25 percent of people with Parkinson’s experience MCI. Mild cognitive impairment could stay the same, get better or worsen over time. In some people, MCI gradually progresses to dementia.

Dementia

Dementia is a broad term for a change in thinking or memory that is significant enough to interfere with daily routines, work or social activities. If dementia occurs in Parkinson’s disease, it’s typically after many years or decades of living with disease.

People with Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) experience many of the same symptoms as those with mild cognitive impairment, but to a more considerable degree. Because they have problems with attention and executive function, they may have difficulty planning and completing activities and may take longer to process information and respond to questions. They may have trouble finding words, get lost in familiar places and be more easily confused.

Parkinson’s disease dementia shares symptoms and brain changes (alpha-synuclein protein clumps called Lewy bodies) with a related disease called dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). These two diseases — PDD and DLB — are grouped under the umbrella term Lewy body dementia. Lewy body dementia causes thinking and memory changes (dementia) and movement symptoms (tremor, slowness, stiffness, and walking and balance problems). It also can lead to hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there), delusions (false, often paranoid, beliefs), fluctuations in attention and alertness (being “with it” one day and “out of it” the next), and sleep, mood and behavioral changes.

Because of their similarities, doctors and researchers distinguish PDD and DLB primarily based on when movement symptoms and dementia arise. People with Parkinson’s disease dementia start with movement symptoms and many years, or decades, later develop dementia. In dementia with Lewy bodies, the movement symptoms and dementia begin at the same time or within a year of each other.

Not everyone with Parkinson’s experiences dementia. Estimates vary, but about 40 percent of people with Parkinson’s have PDD, and small studies suggest this number may be higher in people who have had Parkinson’s for 20 years or more. Certain factors may increase risk for dementia: a longer course of PD, significant movement problems (more walking and balance problems rather than tremor), mild cognitive impairment, seeing things that aren’t there (hallucinations) or believing things that aren’t true (delusions).

Medications can ease symptoms and improve quality of life, but none has yet been proven to slow or stop disease progression. Symptoms and their commonly used treatments include:

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Thinking and memory changes

Treatments: Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), Namenda (memantine), Razadyne (galantamine)
These medications were originally developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne boost the brain chemical acetylcholine, which supports memory and thinking; Namenda works on the glutamate brain chemical pathway. Exelon is the only one FDA-approved to treat PDD, but doctors often use the others “off label” in people with Lewy body dementia. These medications may temporarily boost cognition; lessen behavioral changes, such as agitation; decrease hallucinations and delay the need for alternative living situations, such as a long-term care facility.
Movement problems

Treatments: levodopa/carbidopa (Duopa, Parcopa, Rytary, Sinemet)
For stiffness, slowness and tremor, doctors may prescribe Parkinson’s medications, such as levodopa. Physicians aim to use the lowest effective dose to control symptoms without causing side effects, such as hallucinations or delusions. In people with Lewy body dementia, these medications may be more likely to cause or worsen hallucinations and delusions, so doctors use them cautiously. Physical and occupational therapy also may help, especially with walking, balance and fine motor issues (problems using utensils or tying shoelaces, for example).
Mood and behavior changes

Treatments: Celexa (citalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), other anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications
For mood or behavior changes, such as agitation or aggression, doctors may first recommend non-medication strategies, such as maintaining a soothing environment (avoiding loud television and violent or political programs, for example) and talking calmly to a loved one who is upset. If symptoms continue, your doctor may prescribe medication or recommend consultation with a psychiatrist. There are many different antidepressants and researchers have studied only a few specifically in Parkinson’s and dementia. When treating people with these conditions, doctors select carefully from the wide variety of drugs available, often using them “off label.” Anti-anxiety drugs also may be helpful, but many have potential side effects such as sleepiness or confusion, so they generally are used sparingly in dementia.
Hallucinations and delusions

Treatments: Clozaril (clozapine), Nuplazid (pimavanserin), Seroquel (quetiapine)

Nuplazid is the only medication that is FDA-approved to treat hallucinations and delusions in people with Parkinson’s. This includes people who also may be experiencing significant memory or thinking changes or dementia. This drug works on the brain chemical serotonin to ease symptoms. Because it does not impact other brain chemicals, like dopamine, it does not worsen motor symptoms.

While not FDA-approved for Parkinson’s hallucinations and delusions, Seroquel or Clozaril may be other options. they were used for decades “off label” before Nuplazid came to market. These medications do mildly impact dopamine, so they could slightly worsen motor symptoms.

Like all drugs, these medications also have potential benefits and risks. It’s very important to discuss the pros and cons — of both treating and not treating symptoms — with your personal physician.

Find resources for learning more and talking about thinking and memory changes.

Testing

If you or your loved one notice thinking or memory changes, tell your doctor. Your physician may ask if you have other symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sleep problems or apathy (lack of motivation) — all common in Parkinson’s — which can impact cognition. Your doctor also may review your prescription and over-the-counter medications to ensure none are contributing to cognitive changes. Parkinson's medications such as trihexyphenidyl, for example, can sometimes cause confusion.

No brain imaging or blood tests can diagnose Parkinson’s cognitive changes. But doctors may order these to look for other conditions, such as low thyroid or vitamin B12, which can affect cognition. Your doctor likely will do basic memory tests (ask you to remember three objects, repeat a sentence, etc.) and in some cases may recommend neuropsychological testing for a more thorough and detailed examination.

Causes

Researchers are working out exactly why and how Parkinson’s causes thinking and memory problems. They believe both brain chemical and brain cells changes play a role. Parkinson’s affects several brain chemicals, including dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin and norepinephrine, which are important for cognition. And in brain cells that are responsible for cognition, the protein alpha-synuclein misfolds and clumps into clusters called Lewy bodies, which researchers believe causes cell damage or death.

Ongoing Research

Researchers are working to understand how and why cognitive changes happen in Parkinson's, and to develop treatments for both mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Investigators are testing a variety of therapies for potential benefit: novel medications, brain and body exercises, and non-invasive brain stimulation. They also are looking for tools, such as rating scales, and measurements, such as brain scans, to better diagnose these conditions and distinguish different types of dementia (Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia, etc.). The Michael J. Fox Foundation supports work in this high-priority area, and is building inroads with regulators to ensure the right scales are created to properly evaluate therapies in development.

Read about MJFF-funded research on cognitive changes and PD

The medical information contained in this article is for general information purposes only. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has a policy of refraining from advocating, endorsing or promoting any drug therapy, course of treatment, or specific company or institution. It is crucial that care and treatment decisions related to Parkinson's disease and any other medical condition be made in consultation with a physician or other qualified medical professional.

"We can't have the conversations others take for granted anymore, and he often says silly things. But when he does, we laugh about it together."

Dahna Freidus Community member on her father, who has Parkinson's disease dementia

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Memory & Thinking Changes

Cognitive Changes

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Dementia

Thinking and memory changes

Movement problems

Mood and behavior changes

Hallucinations and delusions

Testing

Causes

Ongoing Research