Decisional capacity for advanced care directives in Parkinson's disease with cognitive concerns

This exploratory study demonstrates PD with cognitive concerns had a range in decisional capacity with lower MoCA and MMSE scores predicting impaired MacCAT subscores. Clinicians should be aware that cognitive complaints without dementia may impact capacity. Despite impairments in understanding, appreciation or reasoning, patients may still express a choice. Hence, a choice in this setting may not represent their true values and goals. GOC discussions require explicit determination of the domains of capacity. Discussions regarding GOC should occur early in the course of PD.