Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Published : September 21, 2015 6:07 PM IST
21st September is World Alzheimer's Day
Alzheimer's disease is a condition that affects a patient's ability to cognate and remember things. But that's not all, being a degenerative disease, the condition places a considerable amount of emotional and physical strain on the patient's caretaker. While many feel that all is lost after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, cognition based rehabilitation can help the patient stay active and alert. We spoke to Ms Aditi Midha, Neuro Physiotherapist at AktivOrtho , about this therapy. Here are all your questions about the therapy, answered. You may also like to read about this guide for caregivers.
What is cognitive therapy?
Cognitive therapy for Alzheimer s disease is based on the principle of neuroplasticity. Aging causes gradual loss in brain systems and neurological functioning. However, the nervous system has the ability to continuously adjust its structural organization in response to the environment. The capability of the brain to restructure and be able to adapt to changing circumstances and situations, including degeneration is known as Neuroplasticity.
This brain re-wiring through cognitive training or re-training can drive brain plasticity by engaging cognitive, sensory, and psychomotor activities in a focused manner. The training re-engages and fortifies the neural systems that control learning, with the goal of increasing the power of brain representations and functioning. You may also like to read about these tips to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's.
What kind of cognitive tests are performed?
The cognitive tests include a plethora of information and assessment tests, beginning with a detailed description drawn from the caregivers to daily diaries containing important daily events to monitor the change in behavior and cognitive parameters with respect to memory, orientation and intelligence. Professionals can assess the patients on a regular basis using formal assessment tools like The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) [1] , Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer s Disease (Behave-AD). You may also like to read about these tips to care for a patient with Alzheimer's disease.
How often will the patient have to do these exercises?
Ideally the patient should perform these activities for as long as possible. The type of exercise that works best for someone with Alzheimer s depends on their symptoms, fitness level, and overall health. Activities that are repetitive and simple help a person with Alzheimer's a lot. For instance things like walking, indoor bicycling or even simple tasks like folding clothes are great. This is because while performing these activities, the patient need not remember anything nor is there scope for them to feel anxious.
How can the patient's family help them progress faster?
Caring for someone with Alzheimer s disease can be tough. It will include caring for the person, keeping them safe, remembering to give them their medication, and keeping track of their doctor's appointment. Experts suggest using a check-list or even a daily diary to help note down the things that need to be done for the patient. This diary can also be done to note down the severity of
Experts recommend easy ways like by maintaining a daily to-do check list for the patient and maintain a daily diary noting the duration[2] , frequency, and severity of symptoms, the pattern of the disturbance over time, and which activity is occurring or which caregiver is in attendance when the behavior occurs. It also becomes important that as a caregiver to be well informed and prepared. Most importantly to ask for help and support when you need it. You may also like to read about these surprising symptoms that may indicate Alzheimer's disease.
How quickly can one see the results?
It depends on the individual. Patients with mild to moderate levels of Alzheimer s show faster results to therapy when combined with the medicines prescribed for his needs. But, it is important that the cognitive activities prescribed are maintained at a reasonable level of difficulty. It is also important that these activities are interactive and are designed to allow the patient to recognize and rectify his/her mistakes. But probably the most important aspect of therapy is to introduce activities that do not frustrate and discourage the patient and motivates them to engage in it frequently.
How long will the effect of this therapy last?
It is a known phenomenon that routine physical activity has a protective effect on one's brain and may even slow down the progression of Alzheimer's. Incidentally, the hippocampus (a small area in the brain) is the prime area of the brain that shrinks in this condition. And studies have shown that increased cardiovascular exercise can help modify Alzheimer's related brain degeneration.
Also, will this help slow down the progression of the disease?
Many experts believe that cognitively challenging activities, like solving crossword puzzles, may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's in some patients. Whether such activities actually help slow the progression of Alzheimer's is not known. The ultimate goal of Alzheimer s therapy is to help the person maintain a better quality of life.
Image source: Shutterstock
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References:
[1] Sparks DL, Sabbagh MN, Connor DJ, Lopez J, Launer LJ, Petanceska S, Browne P, Wassar D, Johnson-Traver S, Lochhead J, Ziolkowski C. Atorvastatin therapy lowers circulating cholesterol but not free radical activity in advance of identifiable clinical benefit in the treatment of mild-to-moderate AD. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2005 Jul;2(3):343-53. PubMed PMID: 15974900.
[2] Natalie Drouillard, MD, Akber Mithani, MD, Peter K.Y. Chan, MD, FRCPC. Therapeutic approaches in the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in the elderly. BCMJ, Vol. 55, No. 2, March, 2013, page(s) 90-95 Articles.
