TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of Computer-Based Cognitive Rehabilitation on Attention, Executive Functions, and Quality of Life in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

T2 - A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blinded Pilot Study

AU - Svaerke, Katrine

AU - Faerk, Andreas Kirknaes

AU - Riis, Asta

AU - Von Ehrenfels, Susanne Ebba Maja Stiegnitz

AU - Mogensen, Jesper

AU - Lokkegaard, Annemette

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: Cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease (PD) has become increasingly recognized in recent years, and there is a need to identify methods for cognitive rehabilitation in PD patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and effects of 2 different computer-based cognitive rehabilitation (CBCR) interventions on attention, executive functions, and quality of life (QoL) in PD patients. Methods: Thirty nondemented PD patients were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: one passive control group and 2 intervention groups with 2 different CBCR programmes. The intervention period was 8 weeks with follow-up visits in clinic every second week. Before and after the intervention period, patients were tested with a neuropsychological battery of attention, executive functions, and QoL. Results: Twenty-four patients completed the study. Patients in one of the CBCR groups experienced a significant within-group increase on the primary measures of attention, executive functions, and QoL. However, this effect was not significant between groups. No significant differences were observed for the other CBCR group or the control group. Conclusions: CBCR is a feasible intervention for cognitive rehabilitation in nondemented PD patients. The effects of training were modest and should be further explored in larger clinical trials. Some CBCR programmes might be more effective than others for PD patients.

AB - Background: Cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease (PD) has become increasingly recognized in recent years, and there is a need to identify methods for cognitive rehabilitation in PD patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and effects of 2 different computer-based cognitive rehabilitation (CBCR) interventions on attention, executive functions, and quality of life (QoL) in PD patients. Methods: Thirty nondemented PD patients were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: one passive control group and 2 intervention groups with 2 different CBCR programmes. The intervention period was 8 weeks with follow-up visits in clinic every second week. Before and after the intervention period, patients were tested with a neuropsychological battery of attention, executive functions, and QoL. Results: Twenty-four patients completed the study. Patients in one of the CBCR groups experienced a significant within-group increase on the primary measures of attention, executive functions, and QoL. However, this effect was not significant between groups. No significant differences were observed for the other CBCR group or the control group. Conclusions: CBCR is a feasible intervention for cognitive rehabilitation in nondemented PD patients. The effects of training were modest and should be further explored in larger clinical trials. Some CBCR programmes might be more effective than others for PD patients.

KW - Cognitive and clinical neuropsychology

KW - Cognitive decline

KW - Parkinson's disease

KW - Quality of life

KW - Rehabilitation

U2 - 10.1159/000520591

DO - 10.1159/000520591

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34986487

AN - SCOPUS:85123510465

VL - 50

SP - 519

EP - 528

JO - Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

JF - Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

SN - 1420-8008

IS - 6

ER -