Abstract: Objective To study the characteristic of memory impairment and its related factors in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods 155 PD patients were assigned to 4 age groups. Clinical memory scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) were used to assess them. Results The memory quotient (MQ) of PD patients were significantly lower than the norm (P<0.01). The scores of associational learning, direct memory, picture recall and portrait association in each age groups were lower than norm (P<0.05), but nonsense figure recognition (^P>0.05). The MQ of PD patients was significantly related with education and depression or anxiety (P<0.01), and was not correlated with age, gender and course of disease (P>0.05). Conclusion The MQ of PD patients are lower especially in associational learning, direct memory, picture recall and portrait association. The MQ of PD patients is correlated with education and depression or anxiety significantly.

Key words: Parkinson's disease, memory impairment, clinical memory scale