Aspects of awareness in patients with Alzheimer's disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1167-1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selina Mårdh ◽  
Thomas Karlsson ◽  
Jan Marcusson
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Disease Awareness ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACTBackground: The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients’ perception of the world through the study of a few aspects of awareness. The aspects in focus of the study were disease awareness, metacognition, managing of everyday life, and as a complement, the agreement (calibration) between patients and their spouses on the studied aspects was considered.Method: A mixed-method evaluation design was used involving 15 AD patients, their spouses, and 15 elderly healthy control subjects. The study comprised both a semistructured interview (AD patients and spouse) and a neuropsychological assessment (AD patients and control subjects).Results: The patients were aware of their disease and able to report on their illness. Despite this awareness, they were unable to realize and manage the practical and cognitive implications of their impairment. The results also indicate that patients and spouses were not well calibrated regarding thoughts about the disease and problems in handling the cognitive deterioration.Conclusions: The findings of our study have relevance to patients’ well being and how they manage everyday life. An open dialogue on these issues between spouses and in the care for AD patients would hopefully enhance quality of life for all parties involved.

scholarly journals Nonlinear analysis of electroencephalogram and magnetoencephalogram recordings in patients with Alzheimer's disease

2008 ◽  
Vol 367 (1887) ◽  
pp. 317-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Hornero ◽  
Daniel Abásolo ◽  
Javier Escudero ◽  
Carlos Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Nonlinear Analysis ◽  
Approximate Entropy ◽  
Multiscale Entropy ◽  
Nonlinear Methods ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
And Control ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

The aim of the present study is to show the usefulness of nonlinear methods to analyse the electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetoencephalogram (MEG) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The following nonlinear methods have been applied to study the EEG and MEG background activity in AD patients and control subjects: approximate entropy, sample entropy, multiscale entropy, auto-mutual information and Lempel–Ziv complexity. We discuss why these nonlinear methods are appropriate to analyse the EEG and MEG. Furthermore, the performance of all these methods has been compared when applied to the same databases of EEG and MEG recordings. Our results show that EEG and MEG background activities in AD patients are less complex and more regular than in healthy control subjects. In line with previous studies, our work suggests that nonlinear analysis techniques could be useful in AD diagnosis.

scholarly journals Terapia Ocupacional no cuidado ao idoso com demência: uma revisão integrativa/Occupational therapy in the care of the elderly with dementia: integrative review

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-132
Author(s):  
Vanessa Silva Lins ◽  
Marcia Queiroz de Carvalho Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Occupational Performance ◽  
Number Of Publications

A demência é uma das principais causas de incapacidade entre a população idosa, sua prevalência vem crescendo com o aumento da longevidade e vem se tornando um problema de saúde pública. O idoso acometido por demência tem as ocupações e o desempenho ocupacional bastante comprometido, necessitando da assistência do terapeuta ocupacional. O objetivo do presente estudo é analisar as contribuições da Terapia Ocupacional na atenção ao idoso com demência, descritas nas produções científicas publicadas em periódicos na área de saúde. Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática, do tipo integrativa, realizada na plataforma BIREME, nas bases de dados da LILACS, SciELO e MEDLINE, usando os descritores “Demência AND Terapia Ocupacional” e “Doença de Alzheimer AND Terapia Ocupacional”, nos idiomas português e espanhol. Foram encontrados 33 artigos, desse total foram selecionados para análise 07 artigos, que estavam dentro dos critérios de inclusão. Esta revisão permitiu constatar que, apesar da tímida produção de publicações de terapeutas ocupacionais acerca da demência, nos dois idiomas pesquisados, a Terapia Ocupacional vem ampliando seu escopo de ação, para além das tradicionais abordagens cognitivas e centradas apenas no idoso, avançou na promoção de práticas preventivas e no manejo de sintomas psicológicos e comportamentais, que envolvem tanto o ambiente físico quanto o ambiente social do idoso. A Terapia Ocupacional tem desenvolvido e utilizado instrumentos próprios da profissão, tais como a DADL-Br e a COPM, fortalecendo sua identidade e especificidade. Vem contribuindo para a qualidade de vida e bem-estar do idoso com Demência e seus cuidadores/familiares, promovendo uma atenção integral e contextualizada. Abstract Dementia is one of the leading causes of disability among the elderly population. Its prevalence has increased with longevity growth and it has become a public health problem. The older adults person affected by dementia has his/her occupations and occupational performance quite compromised, requiring Occupational Therapy assistance. The objective of the present study is to analyze Occupational Therapy assistance contributions to the elderly with dementia, described in the scientific productions published in health journals. It is a review of the integrative type, performed in BIREME platform, in the databases of LILACS, SciELO and MEDLINE, using the descriptors "Dementia AND Occupational Therapy" and "Alzheimer's Disease AND Occupational Therapy", in Portuguese and Spanish.We have found 33 articles, from which 7 articles were selected for analysis, according to the inclusion criteria.This review showed that, in spite of the small number of publications about the performance of dementia in both languages, Occupational Therapy has expanded its scope of action. Beyond cognitive approaches focused on the older adults, it has been making progress on preventing and managing psychological and behavioral symptoms, involving both the physical and social environment of the older adults. Occupational Therapy has developed and used its own tests and evaluations, such as DADL-Br and COPM, strengthening its identity and specificity. It contributes to the quality of life and well-being of the elderly with Dementia and their caregivers / family, promoting integrated and contextualized care.Keywords: Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Elderly; Occupational Therapy.

Decreased α-Synuclein Serum Levels in Patients with Lewy Body Dementia Compared to Alzheimer’s Disease Patients and Control Subjects

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 413-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Laske ◽  
Andreas J. Fallgatter ◽  
Elke Stransky ◽  
Katja Hagen ◽  
Daniela Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Lewy Body ◽  
Lewy Body Dementia ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
And Control

CSF Somatostatin in alzheimer's disease, depressed patients, and control subjects

1988 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 710-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth L. Davis ◽  
Michael Davidson ◽  
Ren-Kui Yang ◽  
Bonnie M. Davis ◽  
Larry J. Siever ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
And Control

Short and Longer Term Effects of Musical Intervention in Severe Alzheimer's Disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 533-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain Clément ◽  
Audrey Tonini ◽  
Fatiha Khatir ◽  
Loris Schiaratura ◽  
Séverine Samson
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Present Finding ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Music Intervention ◽  
Short Term

in this study, we examined short and longer term effects of musical and cooking interventions on emotional well-being of severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. These two pleasurable activities (i.e., listening to music, tasting sweets) that were collectively performed (i.e., playing music together, collaborative preparation of a cake) were compared in two groups of matched patients with AD (N = 14). Each intervention lasted four weeks (two sessions per week) and their effects were regularly assessed up to four weeks after the end of the intervention. We repeatedly evaluated the emotional state of both groups before, during, and after the intervention periods by analyzing discourse content and facial expressions from short filmed interviews as well as caregivers' judgments of mood. The results reveal short-term benefits of both music and cooking interventions on emotional state on all these measures, but long-term benefits were only evident after the music intervention. The present finding suggests that non-pharmacological approaches offer promising methods to improve the quality of life of patients with dementia and that music stimulation is particularly effective to produce long lasting effects on patients' emotional well-being.

scholarly journals Influence of visual stimuli on spatial navigation and memory of MCI, Alzheimer's disease patients and healthy control subjects

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. e88-e89
Author(s):  
Mélanie Cogné ◽  
Sophie Auriacombe ◽  
Louise Vasa ◽  
François Tison ◽  
Evelyne Klinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Spatial Navigation ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Healthy Control

scholarly journals Relations between subjective well-being and Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Panage Moura ◽  
Amer Cavalheiro Hamdan
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Subjective Well Being

ABSTRACT. Subjective Well-Being (SWB) is determined by the degree of satisfaction with one's own life and the intensity/frequency with which we experience negative and positive emotions. Current studies indicate that SWB is beneficial for health. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the methodological quality of published articles on SWB in people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: The keywords “Well-Being” and “Alzheimer” were used. Inclusion criteria were a) articles with a sample of the elderly population; b) empirical articles; c) articles published between 2014 and 2019. Analysis of the selected articles was performed using the Downs and Black Checklist. Results: 13 articles were selected for further analysis. The results showed that only one of the articles reached a high methodological quality level. The other articles had an average level, ranging from 46% to 67%, of total protocol compliance. Conclusion: The studies analyzed had a medium level of methodological quality. It is important to improve the methodological quality of studies on SWB in people with AD.

scholarly journals Effects of Music Therapy on Well-Being of People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingzi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

The number of people in the United States diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is projected to increase, posing an urgent need for more effective treatments. Music therapy (MT), a clinical treatment that primarily uses music and involves no medication, is known to evoke memory of music-related experiences among patients with AD and dementia. To better understand the effects of MT on patients with AD and related dementia, I conducted a literature review. The findings suggest that MT is effective in promoting well-being as well as the mental and physical health of patients with AD and related dementia, although no significant effect on patients’ cognitive functions was found. Considering the increasing demand for care and treatment for patients with AD and related dementia, MT should be employed in conjunction with other forms of treatment, in order to improve the patients’ quality of life and relieve the burden on families. More detailed research is needed to help achieve a better understanding of the potential benefits of MT on patients with AD and related dementia.

Impact of Donepezil on Caregiving Burden for Patients With Alzheimer's Disease

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard M. Fillit ◽  
Elane M. Gutterman ◽  
Rachelle L. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Measured Time ◽  
Burden Scale ◽  
Selection Factors

Comprehensive Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment should address caregiver well-being. We predicted that caregiver burden would be lower among caregivers of AD patients who received donepezil relative to caregivers of patients not treated with donepezil. A self-administered, nationwide survey of AD caregivers was used to match caregivers of patients treated with donepezil (n = 274) to caregivers of patients not treated with donepezil (n = 274). The Caregiver Burden Scale measured time demands and distress linked to commonly performed caregiving tasks. Respondents were three-quarters female, with an average age of 60 years. Results demonstrated that donepezil caregivers reported significantly lower scores on difficulty of caregiving. This difference remained when statistical controls for multiple patient and caregiver variables were imposed. However, selection factors must be recognized as a possible explanation for differences. The groups reported no difference on the time-demand subscale. In conclusion, better management of AD symptoms through donepezil treatment may reduce the burden of caregiving, providing physicians with a pharmacologic approach to improving quality of life for AD patients and their families.

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