Feasibility and potential effects of mental imagery training on subjective cognitive function and brain connectivity in people with Parkinson's disease: A randomized pilot trial.
Jared Cherry, Alyssa M Nelson, Lauren A Robinson et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized pilot trial assessed the feasibility of remotely delivered, personalized mental imagery training for goal-directed daily activities in nondemented people with Parkinson’s disease, compared with psychoeducation on cognitive health. Of 51 people screened, 30 were randomized. Retention and compliance with study procedures were 100% during the six-week training period. The study also explored self-reported cognitive function and functional MRI measures at baseline, six weeks, and 18 weeks. Group differences in cognitive-function scores and brain connectivity were observed, but the authors state that these changes require testing in a fully powered trial.
Key findings
- Retention and compliance with study procedures were 100% during the six-week training period.
- Neuro-QoL Cognitive Function T-scores differed between groups at six and 18 weeks, driven by a reduction in control-group scores.
- At six weeks, the mental imagery group showed stronger frontoparietal connectivity than the control group.
- At 18 weeks, the mental imagery group showed weaker visuospatial-motor connectivity during imagery tasks than the control group.
Why it matters
Cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease is described as debilitating, with no effective treatment. This pilot suggests that remote mental imagery training and the proposed cognitive and imaging measures can be implemented in a study setting. The exploratory group differences provide outcomes to investigate further, but do not establish that the intervention improves cognition or brain function.
What to keep in mind
This was a pilot trial with 30 randomized participants; the cognitive and connectivity findings were exploratory and require confirmation in a fully powered trial.