Long-term cognitive treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a single case study.
The effects of long-term treatment in a demented patient were evaluated in this study. One individual diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) was treated with neuropsychological rehabilitation techniques as well as drugs for a period of 2 years and 10 months. An A-B-A-B design was performed for the cognitive treatment. Neuropsychological treatment consisted of a combination of direct re-training and training in activities of daily living. Cognitive performance was monitored with the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale. Results showed improvement and a slower decline during the treatment phases (A) as compared to the no-treatment phases (B). The Conceptualisation and Attention subscales benefited most followed by the Memory subscale. Long-term treatment was shown to be effective in AD. Although cognitive drugs may have been beneficial neuropsychological rehabilitation played an important role in the success of this treatment, appearing as a necessary condition.
Fernández
Alberto Luis
AL
Private Institute of Neurosciences, National University of Córdoba, Argentina. neurorehab@onenet.com
Manoiloff
Laura M V
LM
Monti
Angel A
AA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome