Executive, Activities of Daily Living, and Cholinergic Functions in Parkinson's Disease

Executive, Activities of Daily Living, and Cholinergic Functions in Parkinson's Disease

This research study will evaluate functions of memory, thinking, behavior, and daily life activities and how these relate to the measurement of certain chemicals (acetylcholine and dopamine) in the brain using an imaging procedure called positron emission tomography (PET). You may know that in Alzheimer's dementia (dementia is a disease where persons become forgetful and confused), a reduction in the amount of acetylcholine, a "neurotransmitter" substance (a chemical messenger that nerve cells need to communicate with each other), may be responsible for some of the memory and behavioral changes. At the present time, the investigators have no clear information on the levels of acetylcholine in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease who also have memory or behavioral changes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• PDD: Patients who meet the UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank Research Center (UKPDSBRC) clinical diagnostic criteria for PD with dementia (MMSE 18-25; n=28; age 50-85 years; M/F) are eligible for the study. Hoehn and Yahr stages I-III.
• PD. Patients with who meet the UKPDSBRC criteria for PD with a MMSE of >25 (n=28; age 50-85 years; M/F). Hoehn and Yahr stages I-III.
• Normal control subjects (n=16) (age 50-85 years; M/F).
• No current or past history of neurologic or psychiatric illness.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any subjects on cholinergic, anti-cholinergic drugs will be excluded from the study.
• Current or past history of neurologic or psychiatric illness.