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A double-blind randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of cognitive training delivered using two different methods in mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: preliminary report of benefits associated with the use of a computerized tool

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Abstract

Background

The effectiveness of computer-based cognitive training (CCT) remains controversial, especially in older adults with neurodegenerative diseases.

Aims

To evaluate the efficacy of CCT in patients with Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI).

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, 53 patients were randomized to receive CCT delivered by means of CoRe software, traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive training (PCT), or an unstructured activity intervention (CG). In each group, the intervention lasted 3 consecutive weeks (4 individual face-to-face sessions/week). Neuropsychological assessment was administered at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). Outcome measures at T0 and T1 were compared within and between groups. The Montreal Overall Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was taken as the primary outcome measure.

Results

Unlike the PCT group and the CG, the patients receiving CCT showed significant medium/large effect size improvements in MoCA performance, global cognition, executive functions, and attention/processing speed. No baseline individual/demographic variables were associated with greater gains from the intervention, although a negative correlation with baseline MoCA performance was found.

Conclusion

CCT proved effective in PD-MCI patients when compared with traditional PCT. Further follow-up assessments are being conducted to verify the retention of the gains and the potential ability of the tool to delay conversion to PD-dementia.

Trial registration number (ClinicalTrials.gov): NCT04111640 (30th September 2019).

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Corrente 2017-2019).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy

    Sara Bernini, Marica Barbieri, Elena Sinforiani, Cristina Tassorelli & Sara Bottiroli

  2. Dept. of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Silvia Panzarasa & Silvana Quaglini

  3. Dept. of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Cristina Tassorelli

  4. Giustino Fortunato University, Benevento, Italy

    Sara Bottiroli

Authors
  1. Sara Bernini
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  2. Silvia Panzarasa
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  4. Elena Sinforiani
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  5. Silvana Quaglini
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  6. Cristina Tassorelli
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  7. Sara Bottiroli
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Contributions

SBe and SBo: Study conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of the manuscript. All authors: interpretation of data. SQ and SP: Analysis and interpretation of data. MB: acquisition of data. ES and CT: Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sara Bernini.

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Conflict of interest

 The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was approved by local ethics committee (San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy).

Informed consent

Written informed consent was collected from all of the participants.

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Bernini, S., Panzarasa, S., Barbieri, M. et al. A double-blind randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of cognitive training delivered using two different methods in mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: preliminary report of benefits associated with the use of a computerized tool. Aging Clin Exp Res 33, 1567–1575 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01665-2

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