Mapping research trends and gaps in cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease: A bibliometric and scientometric analysis

Abstract

Cognitive dysfunction is a major nonmotor feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that impairs quality of life and increases caregiver burden. Its intellectual structure and thematic development remain underexplored. This bibliometric and scientometric study analyzed English-language publications on PD-related cognitive dysfunction indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed (2000–May 2025). After screening and duplicate removal, 8721 articles were included. VOSviewer 1.6.20, Python, and Microsoft Excel were used for co-authorship, bibliographic coupling, co-word, and citation analyses. Results showed 8721 publications authored by 34,311 researchers, with the United States, China, and the United Kingdom leading in output and international collaboration (collaboration index 8.02). Four thematic clusters were identified: diagnostic criteria and staging, neurobiological mechanisms, nonmotor symptoms and quality of life, and therapeutic interventions. Findings highlight a mature but evolving research field, emphasizing multidisciplinary integration, stronger collaboration, and the need to explore biomarkers, neuroinflammation, and novel therapeutic approaches.