Several data suggest that physical activity and cognitive stimulation have a positive effect on the quality of life (QoL) of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), slowing the decline due to the disease. A pilot project was undertaken to assess the effect of cognitive stimulation, physical activity, and socialization on patients with AD and their informal caregiver’s QoL and mood. Fourteen patients with AD were randomly divided into active treatment group and control group. At the end of treatment, a significantimprovement in apathy, anxiety, depression, and QoL in the active treatment group was found. Considering caregivers, those of the active treatment group exhibited a significant improvement in their mood and in their perception of patients’ QoL. This studyprovides evidence that a combined approach based on cognitive stimulation, physical activity, and socialization is a feasible tool to improve mood and QoL in patients with AD and their caregivers.

Physical and cognitive stimulation in patients with Alzheimer disease. The GAIA project: a pilot study

DI NUOVO, Santo;PERCIAVALLE, Vincenzo;ZAPPIA, MARIO
2012-01-01

Abstract

Several data suggest that physical activity and cognitive stimulation have a positive effect on the quality of life (QoL) of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), slowing the decline due to the disease. A pilot project was undertaken to assess the effect of cognitive stimulation, physical activity, and socialization on patients with AD and their informal caregiver’s QoL and mood. Fourteen patients with AD were randomly divided into active treatment group and control group. At the end of treatment, a significantimprovement in apathy, anxiety, depression, and QoL in the active treatment group was found. Considering caregivers, those of the active treatment group exhibited a significant improvement in their mood and in their perception of patients’ QoL. This studyprovides evidence that a combined approach based on cognitive stimulation, physical activity, and socialization is a feasible tool to improve mood and QoL in patients with AD and their caregivers.
2012
Alzheimer’s disease; quality of life; rehabilitation
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/10478
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