Abstract
This study explores an intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to improve prospective memory (PM). Results show significant improvements and suggest a new tool for OTs to support functional cognition and occupational performance in PD.
Primary Author and Speaker: Jennifer G. Desantis
Additional Authors and Speakers: Erin R. Foster
Contributing Authors: Grace Skinner, Kathleen Best
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with deficits in motor function and cognition. Prospective memory (PM) is remembering to do an intended action in the future at the appropriate moment and is critical for completing many daily activities. Individuals with PD have impaired PM, which negatively affects their daily function and quality of life. We developed an intervention for people with PD to create and incorporate a PM strategy - implementation intentions - into daily life to improve PM. The purpose of this study is to explore the preliminary effects of this intervention. A within-subjects pre-test post-test experimental design was conducted with 13 participants. Non-demented individuals with PD were recruited from a university movement disorders clinic and the local community. Participants completed pre-treatment testing, 8 weekly intervention sessions with an occupational therapist (OT) to learn and apply the implementation intentions strategy, and post-treatment testing. Outcome measures included: accuracy on a computerized PM task (VW), standardized questionnaires about everyday PM (PRMQ) and PM strategy use (PMQ), and self-rated attainment of personal PM goals (BGSI). A Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared pre and post results. There was significant improvement in VW performance (Pre accuracy: M = .41, SD = .23; Post accuracy: M = .55, SD = .25; p = .003), the PMQ (p = .003), and BGSI (p = <.001). While preliminary, the intervention was associated with better performance on PM tasks, increased self-reported use of PM strategies, and improved self-rated performance on PM goals. We are conducting a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the intervention in those with PD. The goal is to improve PM in PD to improve daily function and quality of life. These findings give OTs a potential intervention to improve functional cognition, occupational performance, and participation for individuals with PD.
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