The Mediating Effect of Caudate Nucleus Dopaminergic Activity on the Relationship Between Age and Cognitive Functions in Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Abstract

Objectives: Advancing age is the primary risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD). In PD patients, dopaminergic activity is impaired, and cognitive dysfunctions are observed. This study investigated the mediating effect of caudate nucleus dopamine transporter binding score on the relationship between age and cognition in PD patients. Materials and Methods: The open database of the Michael J. Fox Association was used, and data on 1,099 PD patients were accessed. Cognitive function scores and single-photon emission tomography findings assessing caudate nucleus dopaminergic activity were used. Results: The caudate nucleus dopamine transporter binding score mediated the relationship between age and attention, processing speed, linguistic function, working memory, verbal episodic memory, and visual-spatial functions. Conclusion: The cumulative neurodegenerative effect of age and PD requires monitoring of cognitive function. This study emphasizes the significance of considering dopaminergic activity in the caudate nucleus for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating cognitive functions in Parkinson’s disease.

Keywords

• Parkinson’s disease
• mediation analysis
• cognition
• caudate nucleus
• dopamine transporter

Parkinson Hastalarında Kaudat Çekirdek Dopaminerjik Aktivitesinin Yaş ve Bilişsel İşlevler Arasındaki İlişkiye Aracılık Etkisi

Abstract

Amaç: İlerleyen yaş, Parkinson hastalığı için birincil risk faktörüdür. Parkinson hastalarında, dopaminerjik aktivite bozulur ve bilişsel işlev bozuklukları görülür. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Parkinson hastalarında yaş ve biliş ilişkisinde, kaudat çekirdek dopamin taşıyıcısı bağlanma skorunun aracılık etkisinin araştırılmasıdır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Michael J. Fox Derneğinin erişime açık veritabanı kullanılmış, 1.099 Parkinson hastasının verilerine erişim sağlanmıştır. Hastaların bilişsel işlev puanları ve kaudat çekirdek dopaminerjik aktivitesini değerlendiren tek foton emisyon tomografisi bulguları kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Kaudat çekirdek dopamin taşıyıcısı bağlanma skoru, yaş ile dikkat, işlem hızı, dilsel işlev, çalışma belleği, sözel epizodik bellek ve görseluzamsal işlevler arasındaki ilişkiye aracılık etmiştir. Sonuç: Yaş ve Parkinson hastalığının kümülatif nörodejeneratif etkisi, bilişsel işlevlerin takibini gerektirmektedir. Bu çalışma, Parkinson hastalığında bilişsel işlevlerin tanı, takip ve tedavisinde, kaudat çekirdek dopaminerjik aktivitesinin dikkate alınmasının önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Parkinson hastalığı
• aracılık analizi
• biliş
• kaudat çekirdek
• dopamin taşıyıcısı

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