Barnes, D. E., Mehling, W., Wu, E., Beristianos, M., Yaffe, K., Skultety, K., Chesney, M. A.

BACKGROUND: Current dementia medications have small effect sizes, many adverse effects and do not change the disease course. Therefore, it is critically important to study alternative treatment strategies. The goal of this study was to pilot-test a novel, integrative group exercise program for individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia called Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise (PLIE), […]

Wu, E., Barnes, D. E., Ackerman, S. L., Lee, J., Chesney, M., Mehling, W. E.

OBJECTIVES: Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise (PLIE) is a novel, integrative exercise program for individuals with dementia that combines elements of different conventional and complementary exercise modalities (e.g. tai-chi, yoga, Feldenkrais, and dance movement therapy) and focuses on training procedural memory for basic functional movements (e.g., sit-to-stand) while increasing mindful body awareness and facilitating […]

Lancioni, Giulio E., Perilli, Viviana, Singh, Nirbhay N., O’Reilly, Mark F., Sigafoos, Jeff, Bosco, Andrea, De Caro, Maria Fara, Cassano, Germana, Pinto, Katia, Minervini, Mauro

This study assessed whether three patients with Alzheimer’s disease could learn to use a basic orientation technology to reach different rooms within a day center. At each travel instance, the technology provided verbal messages (cues) from the room to reach. For the first two patients, the messages were presented at intervals of about 15s. For […]

Salva, A., Andrieu, S., Fernandez, E., Schiffrin, E. J., Moulin, J., Decarli, B., Rojano-i-Luque, X., Guigoz, Y., Vellas, B.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of health and nutrition program (NutriAlz) versus usual care on functional level in elderly people with dementia living at home, as well as on clinical practice related to nutrition and on the caregiver’s burden.; Design: Cluster randomized multi-centre study with one-year follow-up.; Setting: 11 Alzheimer outpatients and day care centres […]

De Bruin, S. R., Oosting, S. J., Tobi, H., Blauw, Y. H., Schols, J. M. G. A., De Groot, C. P. G. M.

Objective: This study aimed to compare dietary intake of older people with dementia receiving day care at regular day care facilities (RDCFs) or at so-called green care farms (GCFs).; Design and Settings: A comparative cross-sectional study was performed at 10 GCFs and 10 RDCFs in the Netherlands.; Participants: 30 subjects from GCFs and 23 subjects […]

Van Bogaert, Peter, Van Grinsven, Regine, Tolson, Debbie, Wouters, Kristien, Engelborghs, Sebastiaan, Van der Mussele, Stefan

Objective: To examine effects of individual thematically-based reminiscence sessions based on the SolCos model for older adults with dementia because of Alzheimer disease (AD) as a pilot study.; Background: Reminiscence activities are popular within nursing homes and generally considered to be enjoyable and helpful, however, there is a paucity of robust data demonstrating therapeutic impact. […]

Nunes, Maria Vânia Silva, Pinho, Ana Almeida, Campos, Helena Mauricio, Abreu, Paula, Gonçalves, Isabel Pinto, Caldas, Alexandre Castro

Objective: In the present paper we present an observational study of the implementation of a Neuropsychological Stimulation Program at an Elderly Day Care Center in low-educated participants with very similar backgrounds concerning social economic status. Methods: The implemented program tackled several dimensions, including daily orientation sessions, cognitive stimulation sessions twice a week, followed by movement […]

Mossello, Enrico, Ridolfi, Alessandro, Mello, Anna Maria, Lorenzini, Giulia, Mugnai, Francesca, Piccini, Carolina, Barone, Domenico, Peruzzi, Anna, Masotti, Giulio, Marchionni, Niccolò

Background: Preliminary studies suggest beneficial effects of animal-assisted activities (AAA) on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), but data are inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the effect of AAA with dogs on cognition, BPSD, emotional status and motor activity in severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD).; Methods: Ten patients attending an Alzheimer Day Care Center […]

Gustafsdottir, M.

Background: Health promotion practices hold promises for elderly individuals’ quality of life. This article shows that such practices can be promoted in specialized day care units for individuals with dementia.; Method: Group interviews with 8 groups of staff (comprising 24 staff members) in 3 day care units.; Results: Rather than referring directly to health promotion […]