The impact of cognitive interventions on cognitive symptoms in idiopathic Parkinson's disease: a systematic review

Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2019 Sep;26(5):637-659. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2018.1513450. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

Abstract

This systematic review addressed efficacy of cognitive stimulation (CS), cognitive training (CT), and cognitive rehabilitation (CR) to improve cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease (PD) with (PD-MCI) and without mild cognitive impairment (PD-H). Five databases were searched. Twelve CT, four CS, and a combination of CT with CR were found. PD-H benefited from CT or CS compared to active or passive controls in 42.1% of cognitive tests, and in 33.3% of psychological and functional measures. PD-MCI alone, compared with controls, only improved in 6.9% of cognitive measures after CT. PD-H and PD-MCI, alone or together, somehow improved information processing speed, attention, working memory, executive functions, and visual episodic memory. PD-MCI improved better than PD-H in global cognition and planning abilities. The outcomes suggest some efficacy of cognitive interventions in PD. However, small samples, lack of information regarding standardization of interventions, and poor methodological quality limit results validity and prevent firm conclusions.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; mild cognitive impairment; systematic review.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Cognitive Dysfunction / etiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / therapy*
  • Cognitive Remediation*
  • Humans
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Parkinson Disease / complications
  • Parkinson Disease / therapy*