Yes, it is often true. The exact prevalence of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD)is estimated differently by different authors, but it is relatively common. This is not surprising for two reasons; (1) substantia nigra (SN), the nucleus most affected in PD projects into the striatum which plays a role in the so-called “executive functions,” and (b) more recent research has shown that the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is also affected in PD.Since VTA projects directly into the frontal lobes, the functions ofthe frontal lobes, which are central to “executive functions,”may also be compromised. Both SN and VTA are sources of dopamine projections to their respective targets.
More Questions and Answers
- What is lobotomy?
- Is schizophrenia a brain disease or is it psychodynamic?
- What is the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test?
- Can drugs cure Alzheimer’s disease?
- Does HIV affect the brain?
- What is “agnosia”?
- Is language hard-wired?
- Where is the seat of consciousness?
- What kind of information can you get from MRI?
- If somebody who was in a car accident has normal brain MRI, does it mean that everything is OK?
- Why does hypoxia often result in memory impairment?
- Is it true that the left hemisphere is “rational” and the right hemisphere is “emotional”?
- What is dyslexia?
- What is neuropsychology?
- What are the most common causes of TBI in civilian life?
- What does TBI stand for?
