Objective: To compare cognitive profiles across patients with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease using standardized neuropsychological assessment.
Background: Cognitive impairment is a major feature of neurodegenerative disorders. Although Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) both lead to progressive cognitive decline, the pattern of cognitive deficits differs due to distinct neuropathological mechanisms. Characterizing disease-specific cognitive profiles may improve diagnostic differentiation and clinical management.
Method: A cross-sectional cohort included 423 patients with neurodegenerative disorders (224 with Parkinson’s disease, 116 with Alzheimer’s disease, 83 with essential tremor) and 96 healthy controls. All participants underwent standardized neuropsychological testing using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Cognitive performance was analyzed across five domains: executive function, memory, attention, visuospatial abilities, and language. Statistical comparisons were performed using chi-square and Student’s t-tests.
Results: Total MoCA scores were significantly lower in both PD and AD groups compared with healthy controls (p<0.05). Distinct cognitive patterns were identified. Patients with PD demonstrated predominant impairment in executive function, attention, and visuospatial processing, whereas patients with AD showed significantly greater deficits in episodic memory and attentional functions (p<0.05). These domain-specific differences remained significant after controlling for age.
Conclusion: Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease exhibit distinct cognitive phenotypes that reflect different neurodegenerative mechanisms. Domain-specific cognitive assessment may improve diagnostic accuracy and support development of targeted therapeutic and rehabilitation strategies for neurodegenerative cognitive disorders.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
I. Zhukova, M. Matveeva, N. Zhukova, A. Agasheva, D. Novotnyi, S. Shteimetz, Z. Sayfitdinkhuzhaev. Distinct Cognitive Profiles in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidence from a Large Neurodegenerative Cohort [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/distinct-cognitive-profiles-in-parkinsons-and-alzheimers-disease-evidence-from-a-large-neurodegenerative-cohort/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/distinct-cognitive-profiles-in-parkinsons-and-alzheimers-disease-evidence-from-a-large-neurodegenerative-cohort/