The Influence of a Sensory-Motor Training Program on Inhibitory Control of Individuals with Mild to Moderate Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Executive functions (EF), including higher cognitive processes that employ and modify cortical sensory information, deteriorate in Parkinson`s disease (PD). Accordingly EF allows goal-directed actions and attentional control, which are the basis for independent living. Additionally PD takes significantly longer to inhibit ongoing responses (inhibition). Therefore executive dysfunction and poor attention may result in gait disturbances for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Aims: Could eight weeks of sensory-motor training (SMT) influence EF i.e. inhibition in individuals with PD.

Methods: A convenience sample of 42 individuals with idiopathic PD was divided into experimental (EXP) and placebo (PBO) groups in a time-series design with an eight-week baseline and treatment phase. The EXP (n=25; 66±8years; Movement Disorder Society–Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) III:31.9±14.3) participated in SMT, while the PBO (n=17; 71±9years; MDS-UPDRS III: 22.5±10.0) wore a placebo feedback-wristband. Primary outcome measures, assessed at pre-, mid- and post-intervention, included Inhibition (Stroop Task), Disease severity (MDS-UPDRS) and Mobility (Timed-Up-and-Go; TUG).

Results: Treatment effects were observed for MDS-UPDRS III and total, Choice reaction time (CRT), Interference score and TUG (p<0.05). The EXP and PBO differed at post-intervention in CRT, Incongruent time and TUG (p<0.05). The EXP improved over the treatment phase for UPDRS II; CRT and TUG (p<0.05).

Discussion and Conclusion: Participants maintained response time and mobility improved. Consequently SMT may maintain processing speed with selective attention. More research is needed to explore the influence of exercise prescription on executive processes, however disease severity and mobility did improve, suggesting an indirect influence.