Are There Cognitive and Anxiety Improvements in People With Parkinson’s Disease After Xbox Kinect Training Compared With No Intervention? A Non‐Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose Cognitive impairment manifests early in Parkinson’s disease (PD), adversely affecting patients’ daily activities and mental health. Utilizing exergames via the Xbox 360 Kinect (XBK) console presents a promising therapeutic avenue to mitigate cognitive decline in PD. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the XBK system in enhancing cognitive performance and reducing anxiety levels among individuals with PD. Method A non‐randomized controlled trial, controlled, single‐blind clinical trial was conducted. Forty‐three PD participants were selected through convenience sampling and non‐randomly assigned to either the XBK experimental group ( n  = 23) or the Control Group ( n  = 23). Participants underwent pre, post, and 30‐day post‐intervention evaluations using the Digit Span Tests, Semantics, Verbal Fluency Test, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The control group received no intervention, while the experimental group underwent 10 sessions employing four XBK games. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the University of Brasília (Approval No. 2.109.826). Analysis of variance (ANOVA 2 × 3) with Sidak post hoc test and Bonferroni correction was utilized to examine intergroup outcomes. Results The XBK‐trained group exhibited enhancements in short‐term memory post‐intervention ( p  = 0.04) and at follow‐up ( p  = 0.01), as well as operational memory post‐intervention ( p  = 0.006) and at follow‐up ( p  = 0.001), although without significant between‐group differences. Although no significant interaction effect was observed ( p  = 0.126), a reduction in anxiety levels was verified up to 30 days post‐training ( p  = 0.03), exclusively within the XBK group, accompanied by a significant between‐group difference ( p  = 0.01), also in follow‐up. Discussion Although the intervention did not demonstrate a superior effect compared with the control group, our findings suggest that training with the Xbox 360 Kinect may have the potential to reduce anxiety in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Further research through randomized clinical trials is necessary to validate these findings and evaluate the long‐term benefits of this intervention. Trail Registration University of Brasília, CAAE: 12248513.9.0000.0030. N°: 2.109.826 https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR‐7h6b8mg .