A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Disentangling the Role of Working Memory in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Salmi Juha, Ritakallio Liisa, Fellman Daniel, Ellfolk Ulla, Rinne Juha O, Laine Matti
Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
Publication year: 2020
Journal: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Journal name in source: FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
Journal acronym: FRONT AGING NEUROSCI
Article number: 572037
Volume: 12
Number of pages: 17
ISSN: 1663-4365
eISSN: 1663-4365
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2020.572037
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/Publication/51227499
Working memory (WM) represents a core cognitive function with a major striatal contribution, and thus WM deficits, commonly observed in Parkinson's disease (PD), could also relate to many other problems in PD patients. Our online study aimed to determine the subdomains of WM that are particularly affected in PD and to clarify the links between WM and everyday cognitive deficits, other executive functions, psychiatric and PD symptoms, as well as early cognitive impairment. Fifty-two mild-to-moderate PD patients and 54 healthy controls performed seven WM tasks tapping selective updating, continuous monitoring, or maintenance of currently active information. Self-ratings of everyday cognition, depression, and apathy symptoms, as well as screenings of global cognitive impairment, were also collected. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Of the three WM domains, only selective updating was directly predictive of PD group membership. More widespread WM deficits were observed only in relation to global cognitive impairment in PD patients. Self-rated everyday cognition or psychiatric symptoms were not linked to WM performance but correlated with each other. Our findings suggest that WM has a rather limited role in the clinical manifestation of PD. Nevertheless, due to its elementary link to striatal function, the updating component of WM could be a candidate for a cognitive marker of PD also in patients who are otherwise cognitively well-preserved.
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