Education Effect on Depression and Quality of Life in Nondemented Parkinson's Disease Patients

A comparison of nondemented Parkinson's disease patients with lower, intermediate, and higher educational levels indicated an independent association between longer (better) education and less severe depressive difficulties based on the Beck Depression Inventory cognitive-affective items. Well-educated patients also had a better health-related quality of life based on the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39, apparently due to beneficial effects of education on cognitive performance (attention/memory, visuospatial and executive functions) and the degree of depression. More years of education favors milder depressive difficulties and a higher self-perceived life satisfaction in nondemented Parkinson's disease patients. (The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 2009; 21: 314-322)