The Effect of Cognitive Impairments in Parkinson’s Disease on Caregiver Burden

Authors : Sena Kıcıklar
Pages : 57-71
Doi:10.21733/ibad.1700404
View : 128 | Download : 575
Publication Date : 2025-12-28
Article Type : Review Paper
Abstract :Parkinson’s disease (PD) has motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia/akinesis, postural instability and nonmotor symptoms including cognitive impairment. Many PD patients struggle in a variety of cognitive domains, including as language, executive functioning, memory, attention, and visuospatial abilities. These deficits may be at a level that causes difficulty in performing activities of daily living and occasionally self-care. For this reason, PD patients may need caregivers. As has been demonstrated in all other chronic diseases, caregiving is a demanding process, both mentally and physically. Most of the studies based on the prevalence of nonmotor symptoms in the Turkish sample show that these symptoms are frequent and negatively affect the lives of both patients and their caregivers. Additionally, as the cognitive deficit deepens, the burden on caregivers increases. The aim of this study was to examine cognitive impairment in PD and its effect on caregiver burden by using the literature review method. In addition, although there are many studies on PD and caregivers in the literature, studies on cognitive abilities as a factor that increases caregiver burden are very limited. This study aims to fill this gap by focusing on factors that contribute to caregiver burden, especially cognitive functions. As studies have shown, cognitive decline impairs the ability of the patient to participate in activities of daily living and self-care and thus makes them dependent on the caregiver. This leads to the caregiver taking on more duties and consequently increasing their burden. The experience of disease is shaped socially as well as individually, thus factors such as the burden faced by the caregiver play a critical role in understanding the social effects of the disease. Therefore, factors that negatively affect caregivers must be considered more.
Keywords : Parkinson Hastalığı, Bilişsel Bozukluk, Bakım Veren Yükü

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