Aarlenne Khan, a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Neurosciences Studies at Queen’s University, is conducting research to test whether computer and tablet games may be able to improve cognitive function in people with Parkinson’s disease.
The motor skills of patients with Parkinson’s gradually decline as nerve cells in the brain responsible for dopamine production die off and deprive the body of a key chemical essential for fine movement and mobility.
Dr. Khan’s research will examine whether training exercises can help counteract the symptoms and perhaps slow the progress of this disease.
“Training through cognitive games has been shown to improve brain function in people of all ages so it has a lot of potential to improve function in people with Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Khan, in a University release. “We will use a task that mimics a well-established eye movement task, known as the anti-saccade task.”
Participants can take part in the study at home, using a computer or tablet program where they look away from an object whenever it suddenly appears on screen.
Dr. Khan will then analyse the results over time to determine whether the participants’ efforts to control automatic movements improve their attention and decision making capabilities overall. Magnetic resonance imaging will be performed before and after this training to determine if there are any changes in brain matter and efficiency.
Aarlenne Khan has been awarded the George F. Ingram Basic Research Fellowship in Honour of Parkinson Society Central & Northern Ontario’s Peterborough Chapter. The grant will provide $100,000 over two years towards improving the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s disease.
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Photo – ipad 2 homescreen: William Hook (cc)
