A longitudinal study of a neuropsychological rehabilitation program in Alzheimer's disease.
Our aim was to study the duration of benefits derived from a neuropsychological rehabilitation program (NRP) for dementia patients.


METHODS
The participants in this study were three patients diagnosed as probable Alzheimer's disease in the initial-to-moderate phase; the three were taking anticholinesterases. They were submitted to a neuropsychological evaluation (NE) before the NRP and then reevaluated after 12 and 24 months of treatment. The aim of our intervention was to do practical work with implicit and explicit residual memory by training them in everyday life activities, and using compensatory strategies and their intact cognitive abilities.


RESULTS
Analysis of quantitative NE data (descriptive measures) after the first year of NRP showed cognitive improvement, functional stabilization and fewer behavioral problems. However, this improvement did not continue in the second year, and the disease maintained its characteristic progression.
Abrisqueta-Gomez
Jacqueline
J
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo SP, Brazil. jacky@psicobio.epm.br
Canali
Fabiola
F
Vieira
Vera L D
VL
Aguiar
Ana Cristina P
AC
Ponce
Carmen S C
CS
Brucki
Sonia M
SM
Bueno
Orlando F A
OF
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales