The effects of dual-task training with different task priorities on physical performance and cognitive status in patients with Parkinson's disease: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial
In brief
Variable-priority training improved balance and dual-tasking most in 30 patients with Parkinson's
In this six-week trial of 30 patients, all three training groups improved on several motor and daily-living measures, but dual-task training also improved attention and other cognitive skills. Variable-priority training produced the greatest gains in balance and dual-task ability, though the small study does not show whether these benefits last or translate into better everyday functioning.
- Journal
- Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (Q1)
- Published
- 29 September 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Elvan Özcan Gülşen, Fatih Söke, Çağrı Gülşen, Hatice Ayşe Tokçaer Bora, Öznur Tunca
- PMID
- 42809128
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10072-026-09442-1
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Neurology (clinical) (paper of the day, 4 October 2026): RCT comparing dual‑task training strategies in Parkinson's disease
Abstract
Two strategies have been identified for dual-task training (DTT). These strategies are "variable-priority" DTT (V-DTT) and"fixed-priority" DTT (F-DTT). However, no study compared this DTT methods in patients with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). This study was planned to investigate the effects of V-DTT and F-DTT on physical performance, cognitive status and daily life in PwPD. 30 PwPD randomly allocated to V-DTT, F-DTT or single-task training (STT) groups. All groups received 60-minute training, two-times per week for 6-weeks. Physical performance, cognitive skills and activities of daily living (ADL) were evaluated before and after the training. All groups showed significant improvements in motor symptoms (MS), clinical symptoms (CS), functional balance (FB), stability limits (SL), static and dynamic balance (SB, DB), walking speed (WS), complex and backward walking skills (CWS, BWS), functional mobility (FM), ADL, and kinesiophobia. However, only DTT groups showed improvements in executive functions (EF), attention, verbal fluency (VF) and dual-tasking ability (DTA). Moreover, only V-DTT showed improvements in processing speed (PS). When the three groups were compared, the order of improvements in MS, SL, DB, WS, CWS, FM, EF, attention, VF, and ADL were as follows: V-DTT=F-DTT>STT. The order of improvements in FB, SB, and DTA was as follows: V-DTT>F-DTT>STT. The order of improvements in BWS and kinesiophobia was as follows: V-DTT=F-DTT=STT. V-DTT is more beneficial in some motor functions, especially in static situations, and in some cognitive functions. V-DTT also positively affected the PwPDs' DTA in ADL.Clinical trial registry: NCT06794177, 21 January 2025, retrospectively registered.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.