Prospective Memory in Parkinson's Disease

Prospective Memory in Parkinson's Disease

The investigators tested whether prospective memory is impaired in individuals with Parkinson's Disease compared to controls using reliable and validated experimental measures. Also, the investigators assessed the impact of Parkinson's medication on prospective memory performance in PD to better estimate prospective memory function in PD patients' everyday (chronically treated) life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• PD Group:

  • Clinically definite PD
  • 40-70 years old
  • Hoehn and Yahr stage I,II,III
  • Currently treated with Levodopa/carbidopa

• Control Group:

  • 40-70 years old
  • Spouses of PD Group preferred

Exclusion Criteria:

• PD Group and Control Group:

  • Significant neurological problems
  • Significant current psychiatric diagnoses
  • Mini Mental Status Exam score < 24 (MMSE)
  • Any significant abnormality on brain imaging
  • MPTP exposure
  • Control Participants met the same exclusion criteria described above as well as a biological family history of PD