Cognitive Training in Parkinson's Disease, the iPARK Study

The aim of the iPARK-study is to investigate the effects of a process-based cognitive training program with focus on working memory in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). The study is a double blinded, randomized controlled trial with a parallel group design that aim to recruit 80 persons with PD. All patients will undergo 30 sessions (6-7 weeks) of web-based cognitive training performed at home. The working memory training is a process-based training program focusing specific on updating. The placebo program is a low dose short term memory paradigm without updating. A battery of neuropsychological tests (working memory, attention, episodic memory, inhibition control, risk taking and motoric speed) and questionnaires (everyday functioning and psychological health) will be performed before training and directly after training and after 16 weeks. Patient expectation and measures of adherence (motivation and results during training) will be controlled for. The iPARK trial is expected to provide novel and clinical useful information whether updating training is an effective training paradigm in PD. Further it will hopefully contribute to a better understanding of cognitive function in PD.