AJNN
Academic Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology

Academic Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology (formerly known as the Academic Journal of Neurology and Neurosurgery, e-ISSN:3023-6517), deals with neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and clinical psychology accepts articles on these topics. Academic Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology publishes original research articles, review articles, case reports, editorial commentaries, letters to the editor, educational articles, and conference/meeting announcements.

eISSN: 3108-8171
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Original Article
The comparison of cognitive impairment between depression in Parkinson's disease and major depressive disorder
Abstract
Aims: Depression is not only a significant disorder that impacts the population, but it also manifests as a prevalent non-motor symptom associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite considerable clinical and neuroimaging data regarding the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), the neural mechanisms underlying depression in PD remain unresolved. This study aims to compare cognitive and demographic features in PD patients with depression and MDD patients.
Methods: Thirty-one Parkinson's patients with depression (PD-DEP) and 29 MDD individuals were recruited to the study. All participants underwent cognitive assessment with The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and The Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE). Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was used to evaluate depression severity. Also, participants' demographic data was recorded.
Results: Compared with MDD, PD-DEP patients were older, less educated, and showed poorer MoCA/MMSE performance. A negative HDRS–MoCA correlation was found only in PD-DEP (p=0.011, r=-0.464). In binomial regression analyses age, Abstracting/Delayed Recall of MoCA subtests, education and, HDRS remained significant predictors for PD-DEP in the Backward Wald model.
Conclusion: Depression associated with PD is correlated with specifically impaired cognitive domains compared to MDD. These findings reinforce the hypothesis that depression related to PD constitutes a unique neuropsychiatric condition that needs more attention for the increased risk of cognitive deficit by clinicians.

Keywords : Parkinsons disease with depression, major depressive disorder, cognition, MoCA

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Article available in :
Volume 3, Issue 1, 2026
Page : 1-5
https://doi.org/10.51271/AJNN-0042
Article Information
Received : 19 Kas 2025
Accepted : 13 Oca 2026
Published : 29 Mar 2026
Corresponding Author :

Burak Yuluğ: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Antalya, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Çankaya Ş, Çankaya G, Yuluğ B. The comparison of cognitive impairment between depression in Parkinson’s disease and major depressive disorder. Acad J Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychol. 2026;3(1):1-5. doi:10.51271/AJNN-0042

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