Multistimulation group therapy in Alzheimer's disease promotes changes in brain functioning.
Background. The growing social emergency represented by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the lack of medical treatments able to modify the disease course have kindled the interest in nonpharmacological therapies. Objective. We introduced a novel nonpharmacological approach for people with AD (PWA) named Multidimensional Stimulation group Therapy (MST) to improve PWA condition in different disease domains: cognition, behavior, and motor functioning. Methods. Enrolling 60 PWA in a mild to moderate stage of the disease, we evaluated the efficacy of MST with a randomized-controlled study. Neuropsychological and neurobehavioral measures and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were considered as outcome measures. Results. The following significant intervention-related changes were observed: reduction in Neuropsychiatric Inventory scale score, improvement in language and memory subscales of Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale, and increased fMRI activations in temporal brain areas, right insular cortex, and thalamus. Conclusions. Cognitive-behavioral and fMRI results support the notion that MST has significant effects in improving PWA cognitive-behavioral status by restoring neural functioning.
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy fbaglio@dongnocchi.it.
Francesca
F
Baglio
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Ludovica
L
Griffanti
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Francesca Lea
FL
Saibene
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Cristian
C
Ricci
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Margherita
M
Alberoni
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Raffaella
R
Critelli
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Fabiana
F
Villanelli
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Raffaella
R
Fioravanti
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Federica
F
Mantovani
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Alessandra
A
D'amico
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Monia
M
Cabinio
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Maria Giulia
MG
Preti
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Raffaello
R
Nemni
IRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Elisabetta
E
Farina
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017028:Caregivers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014706:Verbal Learning
D010100:Oxygen
Alzheimer’s disease; MRI; cognitive therapy; functional MRI; language; magnetic resonance imaging; occupational therapy; recreation therapy; rehabilitation