Individuals with Parkinson’s disease often fall while performing activities requiring simultaneous cognitively-demanding tasks (e.g. walking while talking). Falling reduces independence, mobility, and quality of life. Current behavioral interventions do not improve balance while performing cognitively-demanding tasks. We developed a new intervention, COgnitive-based BALance Training (COBALT) to simultaneously train balance and cognition, simulating the demands inherent in common tasks. We are currently examining the effectiveness of COBALT to improve motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease relative to standard therapeutic interventions.
Collaborators: Shirley Rietdyk (HK), Jessica Huber (SLHS), Meghan McDonough (HK), Peter Altenburger (IUPUI), and Liz Zauber (IU school of medicine)
Students:
