VISMEMO-PD is an observational pilot study aimed at investigating visuospatial memory in reaching space and topographical memory in navigational space in patients with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism. The protocol is based on the hypothesis that topographical memory may deteriorate before visuospatial memory, suggesting that navigational memory impairment could represent an early indicator of disease progression. The study will include 80 participants stratified into four groups: patients with mild Parkinson's disease, patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease, patients with Parkinsonism, and healthy participants. Visuospatial memory will be assessed using the Corsi Block-tapping Test, while topographical memory will be assessed using the Walking Corsi Test. Walking motor patterns will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors from the MOVIT system, and visual exploration strategies will be assessed using a wearable Pupil Labs eye-tracking system. The integration of cognitive, motor, and eye-tracking measures may support the identification of early neuropsychological markers and the development of tailored neurorehabilitation pathways for individuals with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism.
Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms. Among non-motor manifestations, cognitive decline is common and heterogeneous and may occur already in the early stages of the disease. VISMEMO-PD was developed as part of a broader research framework aimed at identifying neuropsychological markers capable of predicting disease progression and the risk of conversion to Parkinson's disease dementia through targeted clinical protocols. The present study focuses on the assessment of visuospatial memory in reaching space and topographical memory in navigational space. The theoretical rationale underlying the protocol is based on the hypothesis that the execution of sequences in navigational space may be impaired before the execution of sequences in reaching space. This would suggest that topographical memory impairment may represent an early marker of disease progression. The study will compare performance across four groups: patients with mild Parkinson's disease, patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease, patients with Parkinsonism, and healthy participants. The Corsi Block-tapping Test will be used to assess visuospatial memory in reaching space. The Walking Corsi Test, a walking adaptation of the Corsi Block-tapping Test, will be used to assess navigational memory in extrapersonal space. During the Walking Corsi Test, participants will reproduce spatial sequences by actively moving through the testing environment. The protocol will also investigate the association between topographical memory deficits and walking motor patterns. Gait-related parameters will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors from the MOVIT system, consisting of a triaxial accelerometer, a magnetic sensor, and a triaxial gyroscope. These measures will allow the objective recording of movement-related parameters during task execution. In addition, visual exploration strategies during visuospatial and topographical memory tasks will be assessed using a wearable Pupil Labs eye-tracking system. Eye-tracking data will be used to quantify gaze behavior, including fixation-related parameters, saccadic exploration, gaze transitions between relevant spatial targets, and visual scanning patterns. The integration of eye-tracking measures with cognitive performance and gait-related parameters is expected to provide a more comprehensive description of the visuocognitive and visuomotor mechanisms involved in spatial and topographical memory impairment in Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism. The study will include baseline assessment and follow-up evaluations at 12 and 24 months. Repeated assessments will allow the investigation of temporal trajectories of cognitive decline and may contribute to the development of predictive models capable of identifying patients at greater risk of conversion to dementia. The integration of longitudinal cognitive, motor, and visual exploration data may ultimately contribute to the definition of multidimensional biomarkers of disease progression.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
80
Participants will undergo visuospatial memory assessment using the Corsi Block-Tapping Test and topographical memory assessment using the Walking Corsi Test. Gait parameters will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors, while visual exploration strategies will be assessed using a wearable eye-tracking system. Assessments will be performed at baseline and repeated at 12 and 24 months.
IRCCS San Raffaele Cassino - CTC Via G. di Biasio, 1
Cassino, Frosinone, Italy
University of Roma La Sapienza Department of Psychology University of Rome 00185, Rome
Roma, Roma, Italy
University of Roma La Sapienza Department of Psychology University of Rome
Roma, Roma, Italy
Comparison between topographical memory in navigational space and visuospatial memory in reaching space
Assessment and comparison of topographical memory performance in navigational space and visuospatial memory performance in reaching space. Topographical memory will be evaluated using the Walking Corsi Test, while visuospatial memory will be evaluated using the Corsi Block-tapping Test. The outcome will be used to identify navigational memory deficits and to investigate whether impairment in navigational space may anticipate impairment in reaching-space visuospatial memory.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 months, and 24 months
Integrated assessment of topographical memory, gait patterns, and visual exploration strategies
Evaluation of the relationships among topographical memory performance, walking motor patterns, and visual exploration strategies during the Corsi Block-tapping Test and Walking
Time frame: Baseline, 12 months, and 24 months
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