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Effectiveness of a home-based computerized cognitive training in Parkinson's disease: a pilot randomized cross-over study
Serena Tagliente, Brigida Minafra, Simona Aresta, Paola Santacesaria, Andrea Buccoliero, Cinzia Palmirotta, Gianvito Lagravinese, Davide Mongelli et al.. Frontiers in Psychology, 2025-01-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Introduction Cognitive symptoms are common in Parkinson's Disease (PD), and digital interventions like telerehabilitation other an accessible way to manage these symptoms. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a Home-Based Computerized Cognitive Training (HB-CCT) program in individuals with PD using a pilot randomized cross-over design. Methods Twenty-five participants (mean age 69.32 ± 7.21 years, mean MDS-UPDRS III 33.76 ± 14.25) with PD and mild cognitive impairment were enrolled. They underwent neuropsychological assessments at three time points (5-week intervals): Baseline, after the HB-CCTi, and after Standard Care. The HB-CCT consisted of the Neurotablet® platform that was used to target cognitive domains such as Attention, Memory, Perception, Executive Functioning and Language. All participants completed both the Neurotablet intervention and Standard Care blocks in a randomized order. After a Shapiro-Wilk test, non-parametric repeated measures analyses of variance (Friedman's test) and post-hoc comparisons corrected with the Benjamini-Hochberg approach were performed to compare the effects on primary and secondary cognitive outcomes over experimental intervention and Standard Care. Results The results from the Friedman analysis revealed significant improvements in Word List Immediate Recall, Digit Span Forward and Complex Figure Recall (all p < 0.001) following the HB-CCT, compared to the Baseline. Additionally, Naming performance showed significant improvement after the HB-CCT (p = 0.02). Significant differences were also observed when comparing the HB-CCT with Standard Care, with improved performance in TMT-A (p = 0.02), Phonemic Fluency (p < 0.01), and Digit Span Forward (p < 0.01). Discussion These findings suggest that HB-CCT via Neurotablet can effectively enhance specific cognitive abilities in PD, supporting the role of digital, home-based interventions as feasible strategies to mitigate cognitive decline.
Key findings
- Results The results from the Friedman analysis revealed significant improvements in Word List Immediate Recall, Digit Span Forward and Complex Figure Recall (all p < 0.001) following the HB-CCT, compared to the Baseline.
- Additionally, Naming performance showed significant improvement after the HB-CCT (p = 0.02).
- Significant differences were also observed when comparing the HB-CCT with Standard Care, with improved performance in TMT-A (p = 0.02), Phonemic Fluency (p < 0.01), and Digit Span Forward (p < 0.01).
- Discussion These findings suggest that HB-CCT via Neurotablet can effectively enhance specific cognitive abilities in PD, supporting the role of digital, home-based interventions as feasible strategies to mitigate cognitive decline.
Why it matters
In this small pilot study of 25 people with Parkinson's disease and mild cognitive impairment, a home-based computerized cognitive training program was linked to improved scores on some memory and attention tests. As a preliminary pilot trial, it does not show whether this training prevents or treats Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designpost-hoc analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in Psychology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Frontiers in Psychology: journal h-index 313 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | Design recorded as “post-hoc analysis”, which our rubric does not rank (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 14 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Petronilla Battista: h-index 25 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Verona: institution h-index 763 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39850970) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1531688
- PubMed: 39850970
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Psychology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Tagliente, S., Minafra, B., Aresta, S., Santacesaria, P., Buccoliero, A., Palmirotta, C., et al. (2025). Effectiveness of a home-based computerized cognitive training in Parkinson's disease: a pilot randomized cross-over study. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1531688
Vancouver
Tagliente S, Minafra B, Aresta S, Santacesaria P, Buccoliero A, Palmirotta C, et al. Effectiveness of a home-based computerized cognitive training in Parkinson's disease: a pilot randomized cross-over study. Frontiers in Psychology. 2025. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1531688. PMID: 39850970.
BibTeX
@article{tagliente2025-39850970,
author = {Tagliente, Serena and Minafra, Brigida and Aresta, Simona and Santacesaria, Paola and Buccoliero, Andrea and Palmirotta, Cinzia and Lagravinese, Gianvito and Mongelli, Davide and others},
title = {{Effectiveness of a home-based computerized cognitive training in Parkinson's disease: a pilot randomized cross-over study}},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1531688},
pmid = {39850970},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1531688}
}
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