Cognition in Parkinson's Disease: Insights into Working Memory and Executive Function Alterations

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder mainly identified by its motor symptoms, such as tremors. Nonetheless, alterations in cognition, particularly in working memory and executive functions, are detrimental to patients with PD, critically impacting their daily functioning. As these two domains are closely intertwined, impairments in these areas are strongly associated with disruptions in the frontostriatal circuits and dopaminergic pathways, as demonstrated by neuroimaging findings involving the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. This comprehensive review focuses on alterations in these specific cognitive domains, investigating their underlying neural mechanisms, clinical presentations, and implications for therapeutic approaches. The findings emphasize the need for integrating targeted cognitive assessments into clinical practice for early identification and intervention. Despite significant progress, substantial gaps exist in understanding the mechanisms driving these deficits and developing effective cognitive rehabilitation strategies. By integrating various literary sources, this review aims to expand our understanding of working memory and executive function alterations in Parkinson's disease and their broader implications for future research, treatments, and clinical care.