A 78-year-old man has been showing progressive memory loss and confusion. He also has difficulty moving, including rigidity and a shuffling walk, and frequently seems to "freeze" in place. What could be the cause?
This combination of cognitive decline and motor symptoms could suggest a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease dementia. While people with Parkinson's disease often develop motor symptoms first, a subset will later develop cognitive symptoms, suggesting a progression to Parkinson's disease dementia. A neurological evaluation, possibly including imaging studies or other diagnostic tests, would be the next step.