Research
Cognition Research: Different Subtypes of Parkinson's
Background
Parkinson’s is classically characterised by the motor features of:
- Tremor
- Bradykinesia
- Rigidity
- Postural instability
In recent years, non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s have been better recognised and found to be major determinants of quality of life for people with Parkinson’s. Common non-motor symptoms or abnormalities that occur in a substantial proportion of people with Parkinson’s include:
- Mood (depression, anxiety and apathy)
- Impairments of executive functions (i.e. the ability to plan, organise, and regulate goal directed behaviour)
- Impairments of visospatial processing
This variety of cognitive, mood or mental health, and motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s highlights the heterogeneous nature of Parkinson’s. Researchers at the UK Centre for Brain Repair (BRC) investigated the motor and cognitive profiles in Parkinson’s and proposed that Parkinson’s maybe consists of a group of related disorders which have overlapping symptoms but which can be segregated into distinct subtypes. Determining these subtypes and identifying the subsequent symptom progression will have major implications in diagnosis and subsequent treatment of Parkinson’s patients.
Research
The Parkinson’s Centre (ParkC) is establishing a cohort in Western Australia of newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients which we will follow longitudinally. The cohort will perform a number of test and measurements including; motor, cognitive, mental health, body composition, and quality of life. In addition blood samples will be collected for future DNA analysis. This initial cohort will be expanded to include as many people as possible within Western Australia who have Parkinson’s. This research is an outstanding opportunity to see if the proposed subtypes of Parkinson’s found in a UK population are applicable to an Australian population of people with Parkinson’s.
This research will enable us to answer key questions:
- Are there different subtypes of Parkinson’s?
- What symptoms occur (i.e. motor, cognitive and mood) and how do they vary over time?
- Are there genetic predispositions that make some individuals more likely to develop Parkinson’s?
- What other non-classical features exist in Parkinson’s?
The database established by the Parkinson’s Centre (ParkC) will lay the foundation not only for better understanding the heterogeneity of Parkinson’s but also for the translation of novel therapies for patients.
