Parkinson's Fighter: Sonja

Parkinson's Fighter: Sonja

I joined the Luxembourg Parkinson’s Study in August 2022 as a neuropsychologist at the Parkinson’s Research Clinic. I am very passionate about psychology and neuropsychology and keenly interested in both the clinical field and research. Thus, it brings me great pleasure to work directly with patients and be able to conduct research in a clinical setting.

My main research focus is on the cognitive profiles and psychological aspects of Parkinson’s disease. In my day-to-day, I administer standardized neuropsychological tests and questionnaires to assess the cognitive status of individuals with Parkinson’s disease participating in our studies. These tests evaluate various aspects such as memory, concentration, mood, as well as, smell, and fine motricity.

For a long time, Parkinson’s disease was primarily known as a movement disorder, and people were unaware of the non-motor symptoms, such as constipation, loss of smell and cognitive issues that adversely affect the quality of life. Parkinson’s disease has many facets, and some symptoms can emerge up to two decades before the diagnosis. Thus, research also focuses on developing screening tools to diagnose the disease earlier.

I am very thankful to our patients who dedicate their time and effort to participate in our studies. Without them, my work would not be possible!