Overview
This study is being done to answer the question: How do people with Parkinson's disease, people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and younger people process difficult topics in conversation? It will also explore themes related to dance, such as community building and justice, as perceived by persons with Parkinson's disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment, and younger individuals before and after the Adaptango performance process.
Description
This is a pilot study designed to assess the impact of the mediator/instructor role between dyads of older and younger adults as they engage in art and dance activities that address challenging topics.
The study aims to evaluate the effects of the Adaptango Performance Process (APP) on creativity, justice, and quality of life among persons with Parkinson's disease (PWP), people living with dementia (PLWD), and young adult participants. Validated measures of creativity, justice, and quality of life will be administered before and after the intervention.
The findings from this pilot phase will be used to inform the design and power calculations of future larger clinical trials intended to more definitively evaluate the effects of the APP program on creativity, engagement with challenging topics of societal importance, and psychosocial health across generations.
Findings from the arts-based method evaluation will also be considered when interpreting and reporting study results.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Individuals (PWP, younger adults, PLwD) from the greater Atlanta area. Those in the PWP group must be diagnosed by a neurologist specialized in Parkinson's disease.
- Score of at least 18 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Those who are in the PLwD group must score between 18 and 25 on the MoCA.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Acute medical illness requiring hospitalization
- Uncontrolled congestive heart failure
- History of stroke in the past three years
- Inability to perform study procedures
- Medical or physical conditions that would preclude participation (e.g., severe arthritis or mobility problems, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, renal failure, history of angina with activity)
- Taking medications that could adversely affect cognition, e.g., antipsychotics, opioids, stimulants, chemotherapy, neurologic prescriptions to treat Multiple sclerosis. When applicable, enrollment will be delayed until dosages are stable on, e.g., Aricept, Namenda, anticholinesterase inhibitors, for at least 3 months
- Psychotic disorders
- Confounding neurologic conditions \[e.g., active central nervous system (CNS) opportunistic infections, seizure disorders, head injury with loss of consciousness \>30 minutes, intracranial neoplasms, stroke with neurological or neuropsychiatric sequelae\]
- Substance Use Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorders within six months of evaluation
- Unable to provide informed consent
- Cognitively impaired individuals or individuals with impaired decision-making, individuals who are not yet adults, pregnant women, prisoners
- Not able to clearly understand English
