Parkinson's DiseaseVISMEMO-PDNCT07827963
VisMemoPD Protocol: an Observational Pilot Study on Spatial and Topographical Memory in Patients With Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism
An observational study of Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism, run by IRCCS San Raffaele Roma at 3 sites in Italy.
Trial summary
VISMEMO-PD is an observational pilot study aimed at investigating visuospatial memory in reaching space and topographical memory in navigational space in patients with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 35 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonism, Multiple System Atrophy
- What is being tested?
- Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesItaly
- Study dates
- Sep 2026to Oct 2028
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 35 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Patients with Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonism, and healthy participants
Who may be able to join
- Male and female subjects aged between 35 and 80 years;
- Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease according to the United Kingdom (UK) Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria;
- Diagnosis of primary atypical parkinsonism MSA-P, according to the Second Consensus Statement on the Diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy;
- Diagnosis of primary atypical parkinsonism PSP-P, according to the Movement Disorder Society criteria for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy;
- Modified Hoehn and Yahr stage between 1 and 3 during the "ON" phase (Hoehn and Yahr, 1967);
- Cognitive screening with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score > 17;
Show all 10Show fewer
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 24 (Folstein et al., 1975);
- Ability to walk independently for 10 meters without assistive devices;
- Ability to understand and sign the informed consent form;
- Ability to comply with study procedures.
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis of neurological disorders other than Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease;
- Depressive disorders or Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score > 20;
- Musculoskeletal disorders that could impair gait performance.
- The study will enroll 20 healthy subjects, matched by age and sex with patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonism who will be recruited into the study.
- The same inclusion criteria will be applied to both groups of patients with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease.
- The exclusion criteria will be:
Show all 9Show fewer
- Diagnosis of neurological disorders;
- Depressive disorders or Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score > 20;
- Musculoskeletal disorders that could impair gait performance.
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Maria Gaglione contact
Italy3 sites
IRCCS San Raffaele Cassino - CTC Via G. di Biasio, 1
Cassino, Frosinone, 03043
University of Roma La Sapienza Department of Psychology University of Rome 00185, Rome
Roma, Roma, 00185
University of Roma La Sapienza Department of Psychology University of Rome
Roma, Roma, 00185
Laura Piccardi, laura.piccardi@uniroma1.it
About this study
Official title: VisMemoPD Protocol: An Observational Pilot Study on Spatial and Topographical Memory in Patients With Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism
VISMEMO-PD is an observational pilot study aimed at investigating visuospatial memory in reaching space and topographical memory in navigational space in patients with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism. The protocol is based on the hypothesis that topographical memory may deteriorate before visuospatial memory, suggesting that navigational memory impairment could represent an early indicator of disease progression. The study will include 80 participants stratified into four groups: patients with mild Parkinson's disease, patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease, patients with Parkinsonism, and healthy participants. Visuospatial memory will be assessed using the Corsi Block-tapping Test, while topographical memory will be assessed using the Walking Corsi Test. Walking motor patterns will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors from the MOVIT system, and visual exploration strategies will be assessed using a wearable Pupil Labs eye-tracking system. The integration of cognitive, motor, and eye-tracking measures may support the identification of early neuropsychological markers and the development of tailored neurorehabilitation pathways for individuals with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism.
Read the detailed description
Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms. Among non-motor manifestations, cognitive decline is common and heterogeneous and may occur already in the early stages of the disease. VISMEMO-PD was developed as part of a broader research framework aimed at identifying neuropsychological markers capable of predicting disease progression and the risk of conversion to Parkinson's disease dementia through targeted clinical protocols.
The present study focuses on the assessment of visuospatial memory in reaching space and topographical memory in navigational space. The theoretical rationale underlying the protocol is based on the hypothesis that the execution of sequences in navigational space may be impaired before the execution of sequences in reaching space. This would suggest that topographical memory impairment may represent an early marker of disease progression.
The study will compare performance across four groups: patients with mild Parkinson's disease, patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease, patients with Parkinsonism, and healthy participants. The Corsi Block-tapping Test will be used to assess visuospatial memory in reaching space. The Walking Corsi Test, a walking adaptation of the Corsi Block-tapping Test, will be used to assess navigational memory in extrapersonal space. During the Walking Corsi Test, participants will reproduce spatial sequences by actively moving through the testing environment.
The protocol will also investigate the association between topographical memory deficits and walking motor patterns. Gait-related parameters will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors from the MOVIT system, consisting of a triaxial accelerometer, a magnetic sensor, and a triaxial gyroscope. These measures will allow the objective recording of movement-related parameters during task execution.
In addition, visual exploration strategies during visuospatial and topographical memory tasks will be assessed using a wearable Pupil Labs eye-tracking system. Eye-tracking data will be used to quantify gaze behavior, including fixation-related parameters, saccadic exploration, gaze transitions between relevant spatial targets, and visual scanning patterns. The integration of eye-tracking measures with cognitive performance and gait-related parameters is expected to provide a more comprehensive description of the visuocognitive and visuomotor mechanisms involved in spatial and topographical memory impairment in Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism.
The study will include baseline assessment and follow-up evaluations at 12 and 24 months. Repeated assessments will allow the investigation of temporal trajectories of cognitive decline and may contribute to the development of predictive models capable of identifying patients at greater risk of conversion to dementia. The integration of longitudinal cognitive, motor, and visual exploration data may ultimately contribute to the definition of multidimensional biomarkers of disease progression.
- Conditions
- Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonism, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Being tested
- Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessment
- Keywords
- Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonism, visuospatial memory, topographical memory, Corsi Block-tapping Test, eye-tracking, wearable inertial sensors, MOVIT system, navigational memory, reaching space, extrapersonal space, cognitive decline
- Medical subject headings
- Parkinson Disease, Parkinsonian Disorders, Multiple System Atrophy, Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive, Cognitive Dysfunction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessmentOther
Participants will undergo visuospatial memory assessment using the Corsi Block-Tapping Test and topographical memory assessment using the Walking Corsi Test. Gait parameters will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors, while visual exploration strategies will be assessed using a wearable eye-tracking system. Assessments will be performed at baseline and repeated at 12 and 24 months.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patients with mild Parkinson's disease | Patients with mild Parkinson's disease Receives: Other: Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessment | |
| Patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease | Patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease Receives: Other: Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessment | |
| Patients with Parkinsonism | Patients with Parkinsonism Receives: Other: Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessment | |
| Healthy participants | Healthy participants Receives: Other: Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Comparison between topographical memory in navigational space and visuospatial memory in reaching space
Assessment and comparison of topographical memory performance in navigational space and visuospatial memory performance in reaching space. Topographical memory will be evaluated using the Walking Corsi Test, while visuospatial memory will be evaluated using the Corsi Block-tapping Test. The outcome will be used to identify navigational memory deficits and to investigate whether impairment in navigational space may anticipate impairment in reaching-space visuospatial memory.
Measured: Baseline, 12 months, and 24 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Integrated assessment of topographical memory, gait patterns, and visual exploration strategies
Evaluation of the relationships among topographical memory performance, walking motor patterns, and visual exploration strategies during the Corsi Block-tapping Test and Walking
Measured: Baseline, 12 months, and 24 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Sep 2026
- Study startSep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionOct 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionOct 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Parkinson's DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- IRCCS San Raffaele Roma
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07827963
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- VISMEMO-PD
- Acronym
- VISMEMO-PD
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- VisMemoPD Protocol: An Observational Pilot Study on Spatial and Topographical Memory in Patients With Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07827963
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- VISMEMO-PD / VISMEMO-PD
- Conditions
- Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonism, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Keywords
- Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonism, visuospatial memory, topographical memory, Corsi Block-tapping Test, eye-tracking, wearable inertial sensors, MOVIT system
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- IRCCS San Raffaele RomaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Oct 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Oct 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
VISMEMO-PD is an observational pilot study aimed at investigating visuospatial memory in reaching space and topographical memory in navigational space in patients with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism. The protocol is based on the hypothesis that topographical memory may deteriorate before visuospatial memory, suggesting that navigational memory impairment could represent an early indicator of disease progression. The study will include 80 participants stratified into four groups: patients with mild Parkinson's disease, patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease, patients with Parkinsonism, and healthy participants. Visuospatial memory will be assessed using the Corsi Block-tapping Test, while topographical memory will be assessed using the Walking Corsi Test. Walking motor patterns will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors from the MOVIT system, and visual exploration strategies will be assessed using a wearable Pupil Labs eye-tracking system. The integration of cognitive, motor, and eye-tracking measures may support the identification of early neuropsychological markers and the development of tailored neurorehabilitation pathways for individuals with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism.
Detailed description
Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms. Among non-motor manifestations, cognitive decline is common and heterogeneous and may occur already in the early stages of the disease. VISMEMO-PD was developed as part of a broader research framework aimed at identifying neuropsychological markers capable of predicting disease progression and the risk of conversion to Parkinson's disease dementia through targeted clinical protocols.
The present study focuses on the assessment of visuospatial memory in reaching space and topographical memory in navigational space. The theoretical rationale underlying the protocol is based on the hypothesis that the execution of sequences in navigational space may be impaired before the execution of sequences in reaching space. This would suggest that topographical memory impairment may represent an early marker of disease progression.
The study will compare performance across four groups: patients with mild Parkinson's disease, patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease, patients with Parkinsonism, and healthy participants. The Corsi Block-tapping Test will be used to assess visuospatial memory in reaching space. The Walking Corsi Test, a walking adaptation of the Corsi Block-tapping Test, will be used to assess navigational memory in extrapersonal space. During the Walking Corsi Test, participants will reproduce spatial sequences by actively moving through the testing environment.
The protocol will also investigate the association between topographical memory deficits and walking motor patterns. Gait-related parameters will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors from the MOVIT system, consisting of a triaxial accelerometer, a magnetic sensor, and a triaxial gyroscope. These measures will allow the objective recording of movement-related parameters during task execution.
In addition, visual exploration strategies during visuospatial and topographical memory tasks will be assessed using a wearable Pupil Labs eye-tracking system. Eye-tracking data will be used to quantify gaze behavior, including fixation-related parameters, saccadic exploration, gaze transitions between relevant spatial targets, and visual scanning patterns. The integration of eye-tracking measures with cognitive performance and gait-related parameters is expected to provide a more comprehensive description of the visuocognitive and visuomotor mechanisms involved in spatial and topographical memory impairment in Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism.
The study will include baseline assessment and follow-up evaluations at 12 and 24 months. Repeated assessments will allow the investigation of temporal trajectories of cognitive decline and may contribute to the development of predictive models capable of identifying patients at greater risk of conversion to dementia. The integration of longitudinal cognitive, motor, and visual exploration data may ultimately contribute to the definition of multidimensional biomarkers of disease progression.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patients with mild Parkinson's disease | – | Other: Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessmentPatients with mild Parkinson's disease |
| Patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease | – | Other: Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessmentPatients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease |
| Patients with Parkinsonism | – | Other: Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessmentPatients with Parkinsonism |
| Healthy participants | – | Other: Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessmentHealthy participants |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 35 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Patients with Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonism, and healthy participants
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Male and female subjects aged between 35 and 80 years;
- Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease according to the United Kingdom (UK) Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria;
- Diagnosis of primary atypical parkinsonism MSA-P, according to the Second Consensus Statement on the Diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy;
- Diagnosis of primary atypical parkinsonism PSP-P, according to the Movement Disorder Society criteria for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy;
- Modified Hoehn and Yahr stage between 1 and 3 during the "ON" phase (Hoehn and Yahr, 1967);
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Diagnosis of neurological disorders other than Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease;
- Depressive disorders or Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score > 20;
- Musculoskeletal disorders that could impair gait performance.
- The study will enroll 20 healthy subjects, matched by age and sex with patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonism who will be recruited into the study.
- The same inclusion criteria will be applied to both groups of patients with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Multimodal visuospatial and topographical memory assessmentParticipants will undergo visuospatial memory assessment using the Corsi Block-Tapping Test and topographical memory assessment using the Walking Corsi Test. Gait parameters will be recorded using wearable inertial sensors, while visual exploration strategies will be assessed using a wearable eye-tracking system. Assessments will be performed at baseline and repeated at 12 and 24 months. | Other | Healthy participants, Patients with Parkinsonism, Patients with mild Parkinson's disease, Patients with moderate-advanced Parkinson's disease |
Primary outcome
Comparison between topographical memory in navigational space and visuospatial memory in reaching space
Time frame: Baseline, 12 months, and 24 months
Assessment and comparison of topographical memory performance in navigational space and visuospatial memory performance in reaching space. Topographical memory will be evaluated using the Walking Corsi Test, while visuospatial memory will be evaluated using the Corsi Block-tapping Test. The outcome will be used to identify navigational memory deficits and to investigate whether impairment in navigational space may anticipate impairment in reaching-space visuospatial memory.
1 secondary outcome
Integrated assessment of topographical memory, gait patterns, and visual exploration strategies
Time frame: Baseline, 12 months, and 24 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Sep 2026.
Related trials for Parkinson's Disease
Recruiting
Decoding the Neural Mechanisms Underlying Postural Instability and Gait Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson Disease, Freezing of Gait
Enrolling by invitationPhase 1/2
Lithium for Parkinson's: an Extension Trial
Parkinson Disease
Recruiting
Genetics and Aerobic Exercise to Slow Parkinson's Disease Trial
Parkinson Disease
Recruiting
Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Movement Disorders
Parkinson's Disease, Essential Tremor
Active, not recruitingPhase 1/2
Repurposing Lithium for Parkinson's Disease: a RCT
Parkinson Disease
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Maria Gaglione contact
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism, run by IRCCS San Raffaele Roma at 3 sites 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 10 inclusion and 9 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 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 3 sites 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Maria Francesca De Pandis, MD. PhD, Neurologist (00390776394740, maria.depandis@sanraffaele.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Comparison between topographical memory in navigational space and visuospatial memory in reaching space (time frame: Baseline, 12 months, and 24 months). 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 18 Sep 2026.