The Efficacy of a Novel Computerized Touch Panel-Type Screening Test to Evaluate the Cognitive Function of Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) causes cognitive impairment, an important non-motor feature. To examine a novel computerized touch panel-type screening test, we investigated the cognitive functions of age- and gender-matched normal control subjects and 117 PD patients. Cognitive function, which was assessed by a mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and a frontal assessment battery (FAB), showed that the scores of MMSE and FAB of PD Yahr 4 group were lower than those of Yahr 1-3 groups. Touch panel screening tests were easily understood and performed by almost all patients with mild cognitive and motor dysfunction because of the clear-cut imaging and simple methods without detailed manual-handling tasks such as writing. Touch panel screening tests are potentially a novel tool for screening cognitive functions.