Article explores viewpoints on role of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease

The current issue of Neurodegenerative Disease Management explores evolving viewpoints on the role of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's Disease (PD-MCI), a medical issue which currently lacks consensus. Neurodegenerative Disease Management is published by Future Science Group. The article is also available free of charge to members of Neurology Central, FSG's online community for the international neurology community.

The article explores the growing acknowledgement of mild cognitive impairment as both a construct of and a risk factor for dementia in patients with Parkinson's disease. The authors review lessons learned from Alzheimer's disease research that has already explored disease precursors and biomarkers, disease trajectory and clinical trial considerations.

"Recent research on mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD-MCI), has sought to define its characteristics and risk factors as well as possible precursors of Parkinson's dementia," said Jennifer Goldman, MD, MS, who co-authored the article with Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD, and Cynthia D. Schroeder, MHS colleagues from Rush University Medical Center Department of Neurological Sciences.

"Precursors under investigation include serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and neuroimaging biomarkers, some of which may be similar in concept or in scientific findings to those found in Alzheimer's disease," said Goldman. "Lessons learned from the Alzheimer's disease field may help Parkinson's disease clinicians and researchers further the development of good screening and accurate diagnostic algorithms, which may predict future cognitive decline, and ultimately assist in making treatment decisions."

The article explores MCI-AD research, including the evolution of MCI definitions over the years, clinical trials that now incorporate biomarkers and genetics in the study design, and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting specific biological mechanisms, novel compounds and delivery systems, and earlier stages of cognitive impairment with potential disease-modifying or prevention trials.

"The authors elegantly synthesize advances and challenges in PD-MCI, a complex field which currently lacks consensus, and make comparisons with the more advanced field of AD-MCI," said Daphne Boulicault, Commissioning Editor. "We are pleased to offer this thoughtful review in both our MEDLINE-indexed journal, and free of charge on our industry portal, Neurology Central."