Table 3 Recommendations for maintaining cognitive health across stages of Parkinson’s disease

From: Cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: a report from a multidisciplinary symposium on unmet needs and future directions to maintain cognitive health

Early-stage to mid-stage Parkinson’s disease:

1. Exercise according to guidelines from American College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association60,67,69,71

2. Stay active socially; for example, spend time with friends or join a support group

3. Engage in cognitive training exercises81,83,120

4. Learn coping strategies; for example, work with an occupational therapist or neuropsychologist on techniques for paying attention, remembering things, or doing everyday tasks

5. Nutrition can affect cognition; for example, try a Mediterranean diet

6. Take your time when doing tasks

7. Let your family and friends know if you are having trouble

8. Seek help if feeling depressed or anxious120

Advanced Parkinson’s disease:

Keep following the above recommendations, PLUS:

1. Develop a highly structured daily routine that you follow

2. Consider the use of medication for cognitive impairment

3. Have an advanced directive in place (living will, treatments)120

4. For care partners—take care of your own health as well (see doctors as needed)111

5. For care partners—seek out support such as counseling

  1. Recommendations based on conference participant feedback and references were noted
  2. Information in this table has been previously published in the blog, Cognitive Problems in Parkinson’s Disease—Beth Vernaleo, PhD at www.movementdisorders.org (March 2017).
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