Cognitive changes in Parkinson’s can affect more than memory. For me, some of the biggest changes have involved executive function—the mental work involved in planning, organizing, making decisions, staying focused, and working through several steps of a task.
You might recognize it as: becoming overwhelmed by a task that used to feel simple, having trouble planning the steps, losing track of what you are doing, struggling to make decisions, or needing much more mental effort to organize everyday activities.
What This Feels Like to Me
I spent years working in technology and managing projects where planning, organizing, and solving problems were part of everyday life. That history makes these changes especially noticeable to me. I can still understand what needs to happen, yet something as ordinary as planning a trip to the grocery store can require far more mental effort than I would once have imagined.
What I Wish Other People Understood
Difficulty with executive function does not necessarily mean I do not understand something. Sometimes I understand the goal perfectly well, but organizing the steps, holding everything together mentally, or dealing with too many things at once becomes the difficult part.
My Experiences With Cognitive Changes
I Used to Manage Projects. Now a Trip to the Grocery Store Can Overwhelm Me.
My firsthand Experience with the change from managing complex work to discovering that planning and completing ordinary everyday tasks can sometimes become overwhelming.
Related Treatments & Devices
Cognitive changes can intersect with many parts of living with Parkinson’s. As PD Through My Eyes grows, this section will connect to firsthand Experiences involving treatments or devices when they are relevant to my own cognitive experience.
Learn More About Cognitive Changes in Parkinson’s
PD Through My Eyes is about my lived experience, not medical expertise. For medical information about cognitive changes and executive function in Parkinson’s, visit the Parkinson’s Foundation — Cognitive Changes or discuss changes you are experiencing with an appropriate healthcare professional.