Visuo-cognitive training in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Visual and cognitive impairments are common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and are difficult to treat due to their multi-factorial nature. Visual and cognitive functions interact (termed visuo-cognition) and have a combined impact on balance and gait. In the absence of any effective pharmacological treatments for visuo-cognitive dysfunctions, novel approaches to rehabilitation which combine visual, cognitive and motor tasks are required. The motivation behind this thesis was to explore a novel technological visuo-cognitive training (TVT) intervention using stroboscopic glasses and a cognitive training app for people with PD using a mixed methods approach. The primary aim was to investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of TVT for people with PD. Secondary objectives were to 1) explore how people with PD perceived the integration of technology into their rehabilitation and how this compared to standard, nontechnological, approaches to care and 2) explore the acceptability of using strobe glasses as an adjunct to exercise for people with PD and the user-experience of performing tasks under stroboscopic conditions.

Results from this thesis are the first to consider the experiences of people with PD using stroboscopic glasses as an adjunct to exercise, as well as their experience of using novel technology compared to traditional approaches to rehabilitation. The major conclusion from this thesis is that TVT is a feasible and acceptable intervention for people with PD, and has the potential to offer a novel approach to the treatment of visuo-cognitive dysfunction which has previously been lacking in traditional rehabilitative practices. Collectively, the findings from this thesis add weight to the growing evidence base that supports the use of multimodal interventions to target visuo-cognitive and motor deficits in people with PD.

Date of Award	28 May 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Sam Stuart (Supervisor), Rosie Morris (Supervisor), Gill Barry (Supervisor) & Richard Walker (Supervisor)