Díez-Cirarda, M. , Ibarretxe-Bilbao, N. , Peña, J. , Lucas-Jiménez, O. & Ojeda, N.
Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.
Background:
Mild cognitive impairment is common in non-demented Parkinson disease (PD) patients from the beginning of the disease. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of an integrative cognitive rehabilitation program (REHACOP) in PD.
Methods:
Forty-two PD patients without dementia (mean age=67.40 ± 6.60; Hoehn & Yahr stages 1-3; UPDRS=36.80 ± 17.85; years of disease evolution= 6.71 ± 5.40) were randomly divided to either the cognitive rehabilitation group with REHACOP or the control group (occupational activities) for 3 months. Both groups underwent a neuropsychological battery at baseline and after cognitive treatment assessing executive functions, processing speed, visual and verbal memory and theory of mind.
Results:
After receiving cognitive rehabilitation, the REHACOP group improved significantly in processing speed (d=0.80, 95% CI=0.15 to 1.41), visual learning and memory (d=0.76, 95% CI=0.12 to 1.38), theory of mind (d=0.92, 95% CI=0.18 to 1.44), compared to controls. Improvement in verbal learning and memory was only marginally significant (p=0.06). However, no significant changes were detected in executive functioning.
Conclusions:
After cognitive rehabilitation, PD patients improved significantly in specific cognitive domains such as processing speed, visual learning, visual memory and theory of mind. According to these results, cognitive rehabilitation may be useful and may be implemented in the treatment of patients with PD.