On-line Cognitive Training for Parkinson's Disease

On-line Cognitive Training for Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease: a Randomized Single-blind Study Using Wearing Sensors Technology

Application of online cognitive training in patients affected by Parkinson's disease and mild cognitive impairment. The treatment consists of a 6-week on-line cognitive training preceded and followed by neurological, neuropsychological and motor assessment.

At the recruitment, participants will undergo a neurological visit, a neuropsychology assessment (2 tests for each considered cognitive domain: memory, attention, visuospatial, executive function, language) and a motor assessment with wearing sensors under supervised conditions.

In the treatment arm only, patients will have the Neuronation application installed on their personal technology device (smartphone or tablet) and are asked to complete 4 training session three times a week. Each session is composed of 5 exercises from one out of 4 cognitive domains: Memory, Attention, Speed and Reasoning. The training is tailor made, the complexity of the exercises is adjusted online, based on the patient's performance.

Participants are re-assessed at the end of the 6-week cognitive training (T1) to find out its effects on cognition and motor ability. The same assessment is administered also after 1 (T2) and 3 (T3) months from the end of the cognitive training to test long-term effects.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ease of use of at home internet connection
• Active presence of a caregiver to help with the use of the App
• Sufficient physical ability to use a technological device
• Signature of informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of systemic pathologies potentially responsible for cognitive deficits
• Presence of pathologies of the Central Nervous system potentially associated with cognitive deficits
• No access to internet connection
• Cognitive rehabilitation within the previous 6 months
• Major depression (assessed by Beck Depression Inventory at baseline)