title: Motor effects of REAC in advanced Alzheimer's disease: results from a pilot trial.
abstract: We conducted a pilot, randomized, controlled trial to mainly investigate the feasibility, safety, and short-term motor effects of brain stimulation with radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology in patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) who also experience some gait dysfunction. Neuropostural optimization (NPO) or sham protocol was administered to 31 nursing home patients (mean [SD] age 84.7 [7.0], 77.4% female, 6.5% moderate dementia, 51.6% moderately severe dementia, and 41.9% severe dementia). Motor, cognitive, functional, and behavioral measures were conducted at baseline (T1), immediately after treatment (T2), and 1-3 weeks after treatment (T3). There was transitory dysfunction in axial movements at T2 in the experimental group with no other differences between the experimental group and the control group in the planned analyses. However, after reanalysis of data based on outcome, improvement in capacity of walking was observed at T3 in the experimental group (p < 0.05). NPO administration was comfortable and safe. These results warrant further research with NPO and other REAC protocols to improve motor deterioration in AD.
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, Alzheimer Center Reina Sofía Foundation, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain. jolazaran@fundacioncien.es
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olazarán
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Álvarez
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castagna
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osa-Ruiz
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Herrero-Cano
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agüera-Ortiz
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martín
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric