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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Gordon Duncan, Dr Tien Kheng Khoo, Professor David BurnORCiD, Dr Rachael LawsonORCiD, Professor Alison Yarnall
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Background: Cross-sectional studies have identified that the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) ranges from 70–89%. However, there are few longitudinal studies determining the impact of NPS on quality of life (QoL) in PD patients and their caregivers. We seek to determine the progression of NPS in early PD. Methods: Newly diagnosed idiopathic PD cases (n = 212) and age-matched controls (n = 99) were recruited into a longitudinal study. NPS were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory with Caregiver Distress scale (NPI-D). Further neuropsychological and clinical assessments were completed by participants, with reassessment at 18 and 36 months. Linear mixed-effects modelling determined factors associated with NPI-D and QoL over 36 months. Results: Depression, anxiety, apathy and hallucinations were more frequent in PD than controls at all time points (p < 0.05). Higher motor severity at baseline was associated with worsening NPI-D scores over time (β = 0.1, p < 0.05), but not cognition. A higher NPI total score was associated with poorer QoL at any time point (β = 0.3, p < 0.001), but not changed in QoL scores. Conclusion: NPS are significantly associated with poorer QoL, even in early PD. Screening for NPS from diagnosis may allow efficient delivery of better support and treatment to patients and their families.
Author(s): Dlay JK, Duncan GW, Khoo TK, Williams-Gray CH, Breen DP, Barker RA, Burn DJ, Lawson RA, Yarnall AJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Brain Sciences
Year: 2020
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Online publication date: 02/02/2020
Acceptance date: 31/01/2020
Date deposited: 24/02/2020
ISSN (electronic): 2076-3425
Publisher: MDPI AG
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10020078
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10020078
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