NeuralCipher Research overview
The text below is the source article’s original abstract under a verified reuse license. cc by
IntroductionBeyond motor symptoms, Parkinson's disease (PD) affects cognition and social cognition. This is already evident in cognitively intact PD, but is especially prominent in those with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI). The impact of processing modality (verbal vs. non-verbal) remains unclear. We examined differences across verbal and non-verbal components of cognition and Theory of Mind (ToM) in subjects with PD or PD-MCI compared to healthy controls (HC).MethodsSeventy-seven participants (HC = 26; PD = 28; PD-MCI = 23) completed a battery of neuropsychological tests to assess verbal and non-verbal cognition, verbal and non-verbal ToM. Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistics and multinomial logistic regression models.ResultsBoth PD groups showed statistically significant impairments compared to HC, with more pronounced deficits in PD-MCI. Verbal cognition was reduced in both PD groups (HC = 3.55 ± 0.59; PD = 2.76 ± 0.95; PD-MCI = 2.73 ± 0.95; χ2 = 27.46, p 2 = 0.34), while non-verbal cognition was only affected in PD-MCI (HC = 3.54 ± 1.92; PD-MCI = 2.59 ± 1.40; χ2 = 16.17, p 2 = 0.19). Verbal ToM was selectively impaired in PD-MCI (HC = 6.27 ± 1.00; PD-MCI = 4.94 ± 1.95; χ2 = 9.07, p = 0.01, η2 = 0.10), while non-verbal ToM was substantially preserved (p > 0.33). The regression analysis confirmed that lower scores in verbal and non-verbal cognition were associated with a higher likelihood of PD-MCI classification.DiscussionThe pattern emerging from our findings is consistent with a framework in which domain-specific vulnerabilities are primary, while modality may influence performance in interaction with task complexity and executive demand. This 2 × 2 framework (domain X modality) refines our understanding of cognitive decline in PD and underscores the need for domain- and modality-sensitive assessments.
Scientific assessment
Research question
Assess the question within the original study’s scope.
Methods & sample
Check the source article for study design and sample details.
Key findings
An editorially approved findings summary is not yet published for this record.
Limitations
Generalizability, bias and clinical meaning require separate assessment.
Methods, samples and clinical conclusions are not inferred from bibliographic metadata.