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Predicting Motor Learning of an Upper Limb Task Based on Behavioral and Disease-specific Characteristics in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

NCT06738290 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 100

Last updated 2025-03-03

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Manual dexterity deficits and loss of motor automaticity are commonly seen in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Amongst these problems, using a touchscreen is becoming increasingly burdensome. In addition, a variety of non-motor symptoms, including cognitive impairment have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with PD which will also affect the use of mobile devices. As the degradation of dopaminergic neurons in the striatum results in an impaired capacity for motor learning and more specifically for consolidation in motor memory, the investigators want to unravel the remaining rehabilitation potential in this patient group. Recent work on the consolidation of an intensive writing training program from our group, indicated inconsistent and variable results on retention of learning gains, which strongly depended on the clinical profile of the patients involved. This raises the question whether it is possible to predict different training responses and better understand how this is determined by clinical characteristics, such as disease severity and the degree of cognitive impairment. Also, baseline task performance and early acquisition may determine long-term learning outcomes. Our main focus (primary dependent outcome) is to know which patients will be able to retain the learning gains after 4 weeks without training. For this aim, the investigators will use a home-based training program of a touchscreen task called the Swipe-Slide Pattern (SSP) task. Training of this SSP-task will be offered on a tablet under single and dual task conditions in a random fashion, not only to provide variation but also to increase the cognitive challenge, thereby stimulating consolidation. A crucial factor, which may affect the success of training, is compliance, which the investigators will measure objectively for the first time. As independent variables the investigators will measure several motor and cognitive functions as well as compliance, while including a broad sample of PD patients.

Conditions

  • Parkinson Disease

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Targeted home-based touchscreen training

Participants will practice the Swipe-Slide Pattern (SSP) task independently at home in both ST and DT condition, offered in a random order. During this task, participants perform different pre-defined patterns by moving their finger over a touchscreen, resembling a touchscreen unlock trace. The DT condition includes the SSP-task while counting either red or green lights illuminated on the screen. They will receive 10 training sessions of the SSP-task over a period of two weeks. Each week will consist of 5 consecutive days of training for approximately 10 min. per session. Participants will perform 9 trials of 12 patterns each, alternated with rest periods of 14s. Instruction and answers are also included. Feedback will be provided during the rest periods.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • KU Leuven

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Alice Nieuwboer, PhD · KU Leuven

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-01-10
Primary Completion
2024-12-12
Completion
2024-12-13

Countries

  • Belgium

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06738290 on ClinicalTrials.gov