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NCT Number: NCT07384143

Cognitive Recovery Via Sensor-based Robotic Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Neurological Disorders

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if sensor-based robotic upper limb rehabilitation can improve cognitive and motor functions in adults with neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does sensor-based robotic rehabilitation improve cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive functions? Does this rehabilitation lead to better motor recovery and daily functioning compared to conventional therapy? Researchers will compare the experimental group receiving robotic rehabilitation with cognitive tasks to the control group receiving conventional therapy to see if the robotic approach leads to greater improvements in both cognitive and motor outcomes.

Participants will:

Receive upper limb rehabilitation using robotic devices and virtual reality-based exercises or conventional therapy Complete a series of neuropsychological assessments before and after the intervention to measure cognitive changes Complete motor function tests before and after the intervention to evaluate physical improvements Participate in 25 training sessions, 2-3 times per week, each lasting 60 minutes

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Key information

Conditions

PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder) Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Immune System Diseases Movement Disorders Multiple Sclerosis Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Neurological Disorders Parkinson Disease Parkinsonian Disorders Stroke Synucleinopathies Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo

Messina, Maine, 98124, Italy

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

The CROSS-ND study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of sensor-based robotic upper limb rehabilitation combined with cognitive exercises in adults with neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Traditional rehabilitation often focuses primarily on motor recovery, but cognitive impairments frequently co-occur and can limit functional gains. This study integrates cognitive tasks within robotic rehabilitation to target both motor and cognitive deficits simultaneously, promoting neuroplasticity and functional independence.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group, receiving robotic and virtual reality-based upper limb training with embedded cognitive exercises, or the control group, receiving conventional therapy. Each participant will complete 25 sessions over 2-3 months, with training intensity and difficulty adapted to individual performance.

Assessments will include neuropsychological tests tailored to the patient's condition (ACE-R for Parkinson's, BRB-N for multiple sclerosis, RBANS for stroke) and motor evaluations using standardized tools such as Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Nine Hole Peg Test, and robotic device metrics. Cognitive and motor outcomes will be measured at baseline (T0) and immediately post-intervention (T1).

This study aims to demonstrate that a personalized, integrated rehabilitation approach can improve cognitive functions (attention, memory, executive functions, visuospatial skills) while enhancing motor recovery and daily living activities. Secondary objectives include analyzing correlations between cognitive and motor improvements, evaluating psychological well-being, and exploring the influence of patient characteristics (age, severity, disease stage) on rehabilitation outcomes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-75 years;
  • FMA-UL 0-31: eligible for exoskeletons and robotic devices with high support. (Armeo Power, Amadeo, Motore)
  • FMA-UL 32-47: eligible for end-effectors with medium support. (Armeo Spring, Hand Tutor, Diego)
  • FMA-UL 48-52: eligible for sensor-based with low support. (Pablo, Diego, Armeo Senso)
  • MoCA: ≤ 20

Exclusion criteria

  • Severe cognitive disorders
  • Behavioral disorders
  • Sensory disorders

Treatment and study plan

Sensor-Based Robotic Rehabilitation with Cognitive Tasks (SBRR)

Device

Participants receive upper limb rehabilitation using sensor-based robotic devices (e.g., Motore, Armeo Senso, Hand Tutor, Armeo Power, Armeo Spring, Pablo, Amadeo, Diego) combined with virtual reality exercises. The intervention integrates cognitive tasks-such as attention, memory, and executive function exercises-simultaneously with motor training. Therapy is personalized in real-time according to each patient's performance, adjusting difficulty, intensity, and assistance levels to maximize both cognitive and motor recovery.

Standard Conventional Therapy

Device

Participants receive traditional upper limb rehabilitation, including standard physiotherapy exercises without robotic assistance or integrated cognitive tasks. Therapy focuses on motor recovery using conventional methods, such as repetitive movement exercises, range of motion, and functional tasks, but does not adapt in real-time to patient performance and does not include concurrent cognitive stimulation.

Primary outcomes

  1. Between-group difference in change from baseline in Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) total score (Parkinson's disease)

    Time frame: From baseline (Visit 1) to end of treatment (Visit 2; after completion of 25 rehabilitation sessions; 2-3 sessions/week; each session 60 minutes; total duration ~8-12 weeks).

    Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance. ACE-R will be administered at baseline (T0) and at end of intervention (T1). The primary metric will be change from baseline (T1 - T0) in ACE-R total score. Results will be summarized as mean (SD) change (or median [IQR] if non-normal) and compared between robotic rehabilitation and conventional therapy groups.

  2. Between-group difference in change from baseline in Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Test (BRNT) composite score (Multiple Sclerosis)

    Time frame: From baseline (Visit 1) to end of treatment (Visit 2; after completion of 25 rehabilitation sessions; 2-3 sessions/week; each session 60 minutes; total duration ~8-12 weeks).

    The BRB-N is a neuropsychological battery (multiple subtests). Subtest scores will be standardized into z-scores and aggregated into a composite (e.g., mean z-score across predefined subtests). Z-scores have no fixed minimum or maximum; higher values indicate better cognitive performance.The BRNT will be administered at T0 and T1. The primary metric will be change from baseline (T1 - T0) in a composite score derived from BRNT components (standardized z-scores aggregated into a single composite). Results will be summarized as mean (SD) change and compared between groups.

  3. Between-group difference in change from baseline in Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Total Scale Index score (Stroke)

    Time frame: From baseline (Visit 1) to end of treatment (Visit 2; after completion of 25 rehabilitation sessions; 2-3 sessions/week; each session 60 minutes; total duration ~8-12 weeks).

    RBANS Total Scale Index score ranges from 40 to 160, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance. RBANS will be administered at T0 and T1. The primary metric will be change from baseline (T1 - T0) in RBANS Total Scale Index score. Results will be summarized as mean (SD) change (or median [IQR]) and compared between robotic rehabilitation and conventional therapy groups.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Between-group difference in change from baseline in Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE/FMA-UL) score

    Time frame: From baseline (T0) to immediately after the final rehabilitation session (T1; after completion of 25 sessions; 2-3 sessions/week; 60 minutes/session; total duration ~8-12 weeks).

    FMA-UE score ranges from 0 to 66, with higher scores indicating better upper-limb motor function. FMA-UL will be assessed at T0 and T1. Metric: change from baseline (T1 - T0). Summaries: mean (SD) change and between-group comparison.

  2. System Usability Scale (SUS) score for robotic device usability at end of treatment

    Time frame: From baseline (T0) to immediately after the final rehabilitation session (T1; after completion of 25 sessions; 2-3 sessions/week; 60 minutes/session; total duration ~8-12 weeks).

    SUS total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better usability. Participants will complete the SUS at T1 to evaluate usability of the robotic device. Metric: SUS total score. Summaries: mean (SD) (or median [IQR]).

  3. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) T-score at end of treatment

    Time frame: From baseline (T0) to immediately after the final rehabilitation session (T1; after completion of 25 sessions; 2-3 sessions/week; 60 minutes/session; total duration ~8-12 weeks).

    GAS is calculated as a standardized T-score typically centered at 50 (SD 10); scores >50 indicate better-than-expected goal attainment, while scores <50 indicate less-than-expected attainment. Individualized rehabilitation goals will be defined at baseline and evaluated at T1 using GAS. Metric: GAS T-score at T1 (or change, se lo calcoli). Summaries: mean (SD) and between-group comparison.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Désirée Latella

CONTACT

[email protected]

+393458747117

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Exploring Cognitive Recovery: the Impact of Sensor-based Robotic Rehabilitation in Neurological and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Acronym: CROSS-ND

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2030
Study completion
2030
First posted
Feb 3, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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