University of New England

UNE occupational therapy research team seeking volunteers for study of therapy on patients with Parkinson's disease

BIDDEFORD - A research team from the University of New England’s Occupational Therapy Department is seeking volunteers diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease to participate in a study to help determine the effectiveness of a short-term occupational therapy (OT) program.

The research team will study the OT program on planning skills, memory, visual-spatial perception, construction, and reaction time for persons with Parkinson’s disease. The information that is provided will help therapists design better programs for persons with Parkinson’s disease.
 
Participants will receive ten free OT sessions, consisting of one-hour therapy programs, three times per week. The three assessment sessions are each three-hours long and will be broken into shorter times. Each participant will also be contacted 15 months after the program ends to measure the long-term effects. The intervention will focus on thinking skills, visual perception and reaction time.
 
Men and women volunteers currently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease should have at least fair hearing and vision, even if using a hearing aid or glasses. Persons recently diagnosed with few symptoms are eligible to participate. No walking is required in this program.
 
The therapy and assessment will be located at the Biddeford campus of the University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine. 
 
To participate, call Principal Investigator Beth Moyer at 207-221-4104 to schedule or to get more information. Only 10 people will be accepted. Deadline for referrals is Dec. 7, 2007.

(Press release posted Nov. 29, 2007)