A Trial of Neurocognitive and Supportive Therapy Interventions for Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

This randomized, controlled trial (RCT) evaluates the benefits of memory and problem solving training compared to supportive therapy in individuals with Parkinson's Disease with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and their support persons. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive memory and problem solving training or supportive therapy for 2-months. A 6-month follow up evaluation will establish if benefits remain over time. Impact of these therapies on thinking abilities, physical health, and patient and support person ratings of thinking skills, mood and quality of life will be evaluated. The memory and problem solving training is hypothesized to result in greater improvements and/or stability of function on neuropsychological tests of attention, working memory, learning, and memory skills compared to the supportive therapy condition. Both conditions are hypothesized to result in improved mood and quality of life ratings. Results from this study will determine whether memory and problem solving therapies and supportive therapy are easily used by and beneficial for individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. If positive benefit is observed, information from this study will be used to further optimize these therapies for larger trials designed to evaluate the value of the therapies for individuals with Parkinson's Disease and their support persons.