Dr. Paula Abola: Serving the Parkinson’s Community
Please welcome my colleague in the Parkinson’s serving community, Asst. Prof. Dr. Paula Abola. She is a researcher and educator with a strong focus on Parkinson’s Disease research, patient knowledge, and shared decision-making in clinical care.
She holds a PhD in Clinical Research, with her doctoral work dedicated to understanding how people living with Parkinson’s Disease experience treatment decisions, communication with healthcare providers, and access to meaningful information. Her research aims to bridge the gap between clinical evidence and the real-life needs of patients and caregivers.
Dr. Abola currently serves as Associate Dean for Academic & Student Affairs and Director of DBA Studies at European International University (EIU-Paris). In this role, she oversees academic quality across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs and is deeply involved in research supervision, proposal development, and academic governance. Alongside her leadership responsibilities, she remains actively engaged in Parkinson’s-focused research, ensuring that research findings translate into practical, patient-centered insights.
Welcome, Dr. Abola!
Cognitive Changes in Parkinson’s Disease
When people think about Parkinson’s Disease (PD), they often think first about movement symptoms like tremor or stiffness. However, many people living with Parkinson’s also worry about changes in thinking and memory. This is a very common concern, and an important one to talk about openly. The good news is that not everyone with Parkinson’s will develop significant cognitive problems, and when changes do happen, they are often slow and manageable, especially in the early stages.
How common are cognitive changes in Parkinson’s?
Studies suggest that about 20 to 40% of people with Parkinson’s experience mild cognitive changes at some point during the disease. These changes are often subtle and may not interfere much with daily life. More severe cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s Disease dementia usually occurs later in the disease and does not affect everyone.
Importantly, having Parkinson’s does not automatically mean you will develop dementia. Many people live for years, even decades, with Parkinson’s and maintain good cognitive function.
What are the earliest cognitive changes people may notice?
Early cognitive changes in Parkinson’s are often different from Alzheimer’s disease. Memory for past events is usually not the first problem. Instead, early changes often involve how the brain processes information.
Some of the earliest signs may include:
Slower thinking (needing more time to process information or make decisions)
Difficulty multitasking (finding it harder to do more than one thing at a time)
Problems with attention or concentration
Difficulty planning or organizing tasks
Feeling mentally fatigued more easily
People may notice this when managing finances, following conversations in noisy places, or planning complex activities. Family members may notice that a person needs more time or prefers simpler routines.
What about memory problems?
Mild forgetfulness can happen, especially when someone is tired, stressed, or distracted. However, early Parkinson’s-related cognitive changes are often not about forgetting information, but rather retrieving it more slowly. Many people say, “It comes to me later.”
What can influence cognitive changes?
Several factors can affect thinking in Parkinson’s, including:
Sleep problems
Depression or anxiety
Medication effects
Fatigue
Pain or stress
Addressing these issues can often improve cognitive symptoms, which is why it’s important to discuss changes with your healthcare team.
What can you do if you notice changes?
If you or your family notice cognitive changes, talk to your neurologist or healthcare
provider. Early discussion allows for:
Proper assessment
Medication review
Cognitive strategies and support
Lifestyle advice (exercise, mental stimulation, sleep routines)
Staying mentally active, physically active, socially connected, and getting good sleep can all support brain health.
A reassuring message
Cognitive changes in Parkinson’s can be worrying, but they are not the same for everyone and often progress slowly. Many people continue to live full, meaningful lives with Parkinson’s, adapting along the way with the right support.
You are not alone, and help is available.
Blog post by: Dr. Paula Abola, PhD