Introduction: Dementia is characterized by a decline in thinking, emotional flatness, and reasoning that develops in many people living with Parkinson’s and begins at least a year after diagnosis [1,2]. The aim of our study was to determine the rate of depression and cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease in Georgia. We studied patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 3-10 years before our study began.

Methods: The study was conducted at a Medical Center in Batumi, Georgia in between 2018-2021. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects or their legal representatives before the study. None of the participants had another neurological, psychiatric, ophthalmological, or musculoskeletal co morbidity that interfered with the research. Handedness was assessed using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. The Beck depression scale (Beck depression inventory - BDI) was used to evaluate the severity of depression. Neuroimaging was performed in all patients - computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (CT or MRI). Neuroimaging studies were used to measure brain volume and extent of cortical atrophy in parkinsonian patients. For the diagnosis of dementia, Mini-Mental State Examination was used.

Results: In patients with Parkinson’s disease, the middle age was 69.4 years. Moderate dementia was detected in 20 (20%) of patients - a significant deterioration in memory for current events were seen. severe dementia was detected in 25 (25%) of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Depressive disorders were detected in 82 persons (42 women and 40 men). Among them, 20% fulfilled signs of a moderate degree of depression, 25% severe degree of depression, and 55% mild degree of depression. There was no correlation between the onset time of disease and the severity of depression. Our neuroimaging studies revealed cortical atrophy in 24 (24%) of the patients with the expansion of the ventricles. The atrophic process is strongly expressed in the temporal and frontal regions.

Conclusion: The incidence of cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease was quite high in Georgia. According to our study, patients with Parkinson’s disease have a fairly high rate of both depression and the degree of dementia. Depression and dementia appear soon after the onset of the disease.