Overview
This project explores the effects of specialized computer-based cognitive rehabilitation (CBCR) targeting executive functions in three groups of patients: Stroke, Cardiac Arrest and Parkinson's Disease. The effect of specialized CBCR is compared generally cognitively stimulating activities on a computer
Description
This project explores the effects of specialized computer-based cognitive rehabilitation (CBCR) targeting executive functions in three groups of patients: Stroke, Cardiac Arrest and Parkinson's Disease. The effect of specialized CBCR is compared to completing generally cognitively stimulating activities on a computer. A total of 600 patients (400 with stroke, 100 after heart attack and 100 with Parkinson's disease) is expected to be enrolled. All patients will complete a neuropsychological test battery assessing executive functions at inclusion, directly after the eight-week training period and at follow-up three months after the end of the intervention period. Furthermore, all patients will answer questionnaires concerning quality of life and ADL-measures at baseline, after the intervention and at follow-up. All patients will train for a period of 8 weeks, 5 times a week for 60 minutes regardless of their group allocation.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- A diagnose of stroke, cardiac arrest or Parkinson's disease.
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Impaired working memory measured with CABPad working memory test, cut off for inclusion: 5 symbols or less backwards
- Computer and internet access at home.
- Providing informed consent.
Inclusion criteria specific for stroke
- Inclusion within 6 months post-stroke
- Stroke confirmed by clinical findings and imaging, both AIS and ICH is allowed.
- Initial stroke severity >/= NIHSS 3.
Inclusion criteria specific for cardiac arrest
• Inclusion within 6 months post ictus.
Inclusion criteria specific for Parkinson's disease
- Clinical diagnosis of PD.
- Anti-parkinsonian medical treatment (dopaminergic or other).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Informed consent not provided
- Other neurological or psychiatric disease which is expected to influence the patient's ability to participate in the trial according to the investigator
- Not able to participate according to investigator
Exclusion criteria specific for stroke
- Patients with massive anosognosia for executive dysfunction or patients with no subjective feeling of executive dysfunction (Patient sustains total denial of executive symptoms over time)
- Patients with severe aphasia, in which it is unclear whether the patient's performance on a neuropsychological test-battery is due to aphasia and not executive dysfunction.
Exclusion criteria specific for cardiac arrest • None
Exclusion criteria specific for PD
• Diagnosis of PD Dementia according to the MDS PD Dementia criteria