Cognitive profiles at presentation and subsequent cognitive decline and quality of life in Parkinson's disease

INTRODUCTION Currently, our ability to predict cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease is limited. METHODS In 234 dementia‐free PD patients, cognitive profiles at baseline were determined using cluster analysis and longitudinal associations with global cognitive z‐score, health‐related quality of life (HR‐QoL), caregiver burden, and risk of reliable cognitive change (RCC) were tested. RESULTS Participants fell into four cognitive profiles at baseline: normal cognition ( n = 108), memory impairment ( n = 47), memory and executive function impairment ( n = 59), and global cognitive impairment ( n = 20). After adjusting for the severity of cognitive impairment, only the memory impairment cluster showed a higher risk of RCC. Baseline cognitive profiles did not predict different rates of cognitive decline, change in HR‐QoL, or caregiver burden. DISCUSSION The memory impairment cluster showed a higher risk of developing a reliable cognitive change; however, baseline cognitive profiles did not consistently predict different rates of cognitive decline, HR‐QoL, or caregiver burden. Highlights: Data‐driven approach to identify cognitive profiles. Cognitive decline across domains assessed by risk of reliable cognitive change. Cognitive profiles did not predict rate of cognitive decline. Memory impairment profile had a higher risk of reliable cognitive change.