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Parkinson DeseaseOPERANCT06920511

Cognitive Rehabilitation With Virtual Reality in Parkinson Disease

A study testing Cognitve rehabilitation with virtual reality and robotic arm in people with Parkinson Desease and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), run by Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ETS at 1 site in Italy.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The OPERA Clinical Study is an interventional, single-arm, open-label pilot clinical study that aims to evaluate the usability of an innovative bio-cooperative robotic platform (PRoBio) for cognitive rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Cognitve rehabilitation with virtual reality and robotic arm
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
10 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
1 May 2025to 31 Oct 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosis of mild Parkinson's Disease (Hoehn \& Yahr stage II-III);
  • Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) according to Litvan et al. (2012) criteria for PD-MCI;
  • Age ≥ 18 years;
  • Signed informed consent

Who cannot join

  • Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease Dementia, atypical parkinsonisms, secondary parkinsonisms, or mixed forms;
  • Severe depressive syndrome
  • Absence of signed informed consent

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Italy1 site
  • Fondazione Don Gnocchi

    Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, Avellino, 83054

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Integrated biO-cooPErative Robotic plAtform for Virtual Cognitive-motor Training in Parkinson's Disease

The OPERA Clinical Study is an interventional, single-arm, open-label pilot clinical study that aims to evaluate the usability of an innovative bio-cooperative robotic platform (PRoBio) for cognitive rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The study focuses on assessing the effectiveness and acceptability of the system in a pilot study involving patients undergoing a structured cognitive rehabilitation program.

PRoBio is an advanced rehabilitation platform that integrates the TIAGo robotic system, developed by PAL Robotics, with the VRRS COMPACT virtual reality rehabilitation system, designed by Khymeia. TIAGo is provided by a robotic arm and RGB-D camera that allow the collection of biomechanical and psychophysiological data, which are then used to personalize the treatment through the cognitive tasks provided by the VRRS COMPACT. The pilot study involves patients with PD-MCI, who will undergo a four-week rehabilitation program with ProBio, consisting of three weekly sessions of virtual cognitive training. The primary objective is to assess the usability and compliance of the system by evaluating user experience, ease of interaction, and engagement levels among both patients and rehabilitation professionals, as well as evaluating its ability to monitor biomechanical and psychophysiological parameters during treatment. This assessment will be conducted using a multimodal sensor system, which includes an RGB-D camera integrated into the UCBM TIAGo robot and wearable sensors designed to measure heart rate, respiratory rate, and galvanic skin response. The data collected through these sensors will be analyzed offline to personalize cognitive rehabilitation treatments in subsequent sessions. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate the accuracy and response times of patients while performing cognitive exercises, as recorded by the VRRS system. Furthermore, the study will explore the potential effects of PRoBio treatment on the cognitive functions of patients with Parkinson's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI) as a possible future rehabilitation to include in the clinical practice.

Read the detailed description

The pilot study will be conducted at two clinical centers, the Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS sites in Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi (AV) and Florence (FI).

The first step involves obtaining informed consent from all participants. Following this, a baseline assessment (T0) will be carried out, including the collection of demographic and anamnesis data, as well as cognitive and psychological evaluations. These assessments will help confirm eligibility criteria and serve as a pre-treatment evaluation for enrolled patients. The assessment tools include the MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Rating Scale, the Stroop Color Word Test, the Trail Making Test (A and B), the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory.

Once baseline evaluations are completed, patients will begin a structured cognitive rehabilitation program using the ProBio platform, which integrates the UCBM TIAGo service robot with the VRRS COMPACT telerehabilitation system developed by Khymeia. The rehabilitation program will consist of three weekly sessions, each lasting 45 minutes, for a total duration of four weeks. The cognitive tasks and activities will be tailored to the individual patient's abilities to provide a personalized treatment plan aimed at improving specific cognitive functions. During the rehabilitation sessions, UCBM TIAGo will continuously monitor the patient's physical and emotional state, collecting data through advanced sensors and its integrated RGB-D camera. These data will be analyzed offline to adjust the complexity and intensity of exercises for subsequent sessions based on individual responses.

Throughout the treatment, several parameters will be recorded. The accuracy and response times in cognitive exercises will be documented in reports generated by the VRRS software. Biomechanical parameters, such as movement amplitude and speed, will be measured using the RGB-D camera, while psychophysiological parameters, including respiratory rate, heart rate, and skin conductance, will be monitored via wearable sensors. Based on these parameters, the VRRS system will provide real-time visual and vocal feedback to the patient regarding response accuracy and exercise execution. Additionally, at the end of each session, the bio-cooperative robot TIAGo will verbally interact with the patient to assess their experience, including perceived enjoyment, task comprehension, and ease of execution.

At the end of the four-week rehabilitation program, a final evaluation (T1) will be conducted using the same cognitive and psychological assessment tools applied at baseline. This will include the MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Rating Scale, the Stroop Color Word Test, the Trail Making Test, the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory. The study also aims to explore the potential of integrating robotic bio-cooperative platforms into routine clinical rehabilitation settings, providing insights into their feasibility and effectiveness for future large-scale applications.

Being tested
Cognitve rehabilitation with virtual reality and robotic arm
Medical subject headings
Cognitive Dysfunction

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Cognitve rehabilitation with virtual reality and robotic armDevice

    Also called TIAGo, COMPACT VRRS, Robotic Bio-Cooperative Training, Virtual Reality Rehabilitation with PRoBio

    The intervention consists of a cognitive rehabilitation program using the PRoBio platform, a bio-cooperative robotic system integrating virtual reality and real-time multisensory feedback. The PRoBio platform includes a robotic arm (TIAGo), a virtual reality interface (VRRS), and sensors to monitor biomechanical, cognitive, and emotional parameters during training.

Study groups in NCT06920511
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Cognitive Training with PRoBio in Parkinson's DiseaseExperimentalPatients with Parkinson's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment will undergo a cognitive rehabilitation program using the PRoBio robotic platform. The intervention consists of 3 sessions per week (45 minutes each) for 4 weeks. The PRoBio system includes virtual reality exercises and real-time feedback based on motor and emotional responses.
Receives: Device: Cognitve rehabilitation with virtual reality and robotic arm

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. System Usability Scale (SUS) - Patient Reported Outcome

    Assessment of system usability using the 10-item SUS scale. Scores range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better usability.

    Measured: Week 4 (post-treatment, T1)

  2. eHealth Usability Benchmarking Instrument (HUBBI)

    Assessment of system usability using the HUBBI questionnaire. Items rated on a 7-point scale; higher scores indicate better usability.

    Measured: Week 4 (post-treatment, T1)

  3. User Experience Questionnaire - Short Version (UEQ-S)

    Evaluation of pragmatic and hedonic user experience with the UEQ-S. Each item rated from -3 to +3; higher scores indicate more positive experience.

    Measured: Week 4 (post-treatment, T1)

  4. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and UTAUT Scores

    Evaluation of perceived usefulness and ease of use via TAM and UTAUT scales. Items rated on 5-point Likert scales.

    Measured: Week 4 (post-treatment, T1)

  5. NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX)

    Evaluation of cognitive workload using the NASA-TLX scale. Scores range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate higher workload.

    Measured: Week 4 (post-treatment, T1)

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Session Attendance and Treatment Adherence

    Evaluation of the acceptance of the PRoBio platform by patients and clinicians, based on session attendance, treatment adherence, and system usability for operators. Additionally, the ability of PRoBio to collect biomechanical and psychophysiological data during treatment will be assessed. These include response accuracy and reaction times (collected by VRRS), movement amplitude and velocity (via RGB-D camera), and physiological indicators (heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin conductance) recorded through wearable sensors. These data will be used offline to customize the rehabilitation sessions.

    Measured: Weeks 1-4

  2. Response Accuracy in Cognitive Tasks (VRRS Software)

    Accuracy rate in exercises performed during each session, as recorded by VRRS.

    Measured: Weeks 1-4

  3. Reaction Times in Cognitive Tasks (VRRS Software)

    Mean reaction times (ms) recorded during cognitive tasks using the PRoBio platform.

    Measured: Weeks 1-4

  4. Movement Amplitude (RGB-D Camera Analysis)

    Mean amplitude of upper limb movements captured via RGB-D camera.

    Measured: Weeks 1-4

  5. Movement Velocity (RGB-D Camera Analysis)

    Mean velocity of arm movements during tasks, as measured by RGB-D camera.

    Measured: Weeks 1-4

  6. Heart Rate During Sessions (Wearable Sensors)

    Average heart rate recorded during rehabilitation sessions.

    Measured: Weeks 1-4

  7. Respiratory Rate During Sessions (Wearable Sensors)

    Average respiratory rate recorded during sessions.

    Measured: Weeks 1-4

  8. Skin Conductance Level (SCL) During Sessions

    Average SCL value measured by wearable sensors as indicator of emotional arousal.

    Measured: Weeks 1-4

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Apr 2025
  2. Study start1 May 2025
  3. Primary completion31 Oct 2025
  4. Study completion31 Oct 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Device feasibility
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
The OPERA study is designed as a single-group interventional study. All participants are enrolled into one group and receive the same intervention, a cognitive rehabilitation program using the PRoBio platform. There are no comparison groups.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
10 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06920511
Sponsor's protocol ID
Opera
Other IDs
PNRR - AGE-IT SPOKE 1 e SPOKE
Acronym
OPERA
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
26 Mar 2025
Last updated
11 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) to be shared include demographic variables (age, gender, disease stage), usability and acceptability questionnaire scores, cognitive task performance (accuracy and reaction times), biomechanical parameters (e.g., movement amplitude and velocity), and psychophysiological data (e.g., heart rate, respiratory rate, skin conductance) collected during the intervention.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Cognitve rehabilitation with virtual reality and robotic arm in people with Parkinson Desease and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), run by Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ETS at 1 site in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

System Usability Scale (SUS) - Patient Reported Outcome (time frame: Week 4 (post-treatment, T1)). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Sep 2026.

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