Cognitive function in different motor subtypes of Parkinson's disease: A systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: As the fastest-growing neurological disorder globally, a better understanding of Parkinson's disease (PD) is needed to improve patient outcomes and reduce the increasing economic and healthcare burden associated with the disease. Whilst classified as a movement disorder, this disease is highly heterogeneous, encompassing a broad range of both motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS). Cognitive impairment, presenting as either mild cognitive impairment or PD-dementia, is one of the most prevalent and disabling NMS. To better understand heterogeneity in PD, researchers have sought to identify subtypes of individuals who share similar symptom profiles. To date, this research has predominantly focused on motor subtyping, with many studies comparing these motor subtypes on non-motor outcomes, such as cognitive impairment. However, despite evidence of a motor-cognitive relationship in healthy aging, findings regarding the presence of a motor-cognitive relationship in PD are inconsistent. In our proposed systematic review, we will investigate motor subtyping studies that have evaluated the relationship between motor and cognitive function in PD. We aim to examine what is currently known about the relationship between motor and cognitive impairment in PD and evaluate the state of the field with respect to the subtyping methods and quality of cognitive assessment tools used.

METHODS: Systematic literature searches will be conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science.

RESULTS: Results will be synthesized using meta-analysis and, where meta-analysis is not feasible, narrative synthesis.

CONCLUSION: Despite the preponderance of motor subtyping research in PD, our study will be the first to systematically review evidence regarding the association between motor subtypes and cognitive impairment. Understanding the nature of the motor-cognitive relationship in PD may lead to important insights regarding shared underlying disease pathology, which would have significant implications for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cognitive impairment in PD.