The Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT-SL) is a tablet-based instrument that assesses proficiency for performing real world tasks in a highly realistic environment.  Examinees are challenged to locate items for a recipe in a kitchen, use a bus schedule, shop in a supermarket, and make exact change.  The VRFCAT-SL has previously been validated in schizophrenia and older adult populations.  The present study examines contributions of motor symptoms and cognition on VRFCAT-SL performance in Parkinson’s disease (PD). 

The VRFCAT-SL was administered to a sample of 29 PD patients seen in clinic for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.  The mean (SD) age was 66.62 (7.64), with 8.66 years of illness (4.79), H&Y Stage of 2.38 (.53), MDS-UPDRS Part III of 29.45 (11.38), and levodopa equivalent daily dose of 980.45 (471.45).  Fifteen (15) patients met Movement Disorders Society Task Force criteria for mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI); no patients were diagnosed with dementia.  Performance outcomes from the VRFCAT-SL included demographically corrected T-scores for completion time, errors, and forced progressions.  Non-parametric correlations with PD motor measures and standardized neuropsychological test performances were examined. 

No motor measures were associated with VRFCAT-SL performance outcomes.  T-score ranges for VRFCAT-SL and standardized neuropsychological test performances were similar.  VRFCAT-SL completion time was associated with visual memory, sustained attention, and set-switching.  VRFCAT-SL errors were associated with psychomotor inhibition.  Only 4 PD patients required forced progression, and all met criteria for PD-MCI.