title: Persons with Alzheimer's disease engage in leisure and mild physical activity with the support of technology-aided programs.
abstract: Three studies were conducted to assess technology-aided programs to promote leisure engagement and mild physical activity in persons with Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, Study I assessed a program aimed at enabling three patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease to choose among different music options and activate the preferred ones. Studies II and III were directed at patients in the low moderate or severe stages of the Alzheimer's disease who were no longer capable of ambulating and spent their time generally inactive, sitting in their wheelchairs. In particular, Study II used a program to help three patients exercise an arm-raising movement. Study III used a program to help three patients exercise a leg-foot movement. Each study was carried out according to a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across patients. Results were very encouraging. The patients of Study I learned to choose and activate their preferred music pieces. The patients of Studies II and III enhanced their performance of the target movements and increased their indices of positive participation (e.g., smiles and verbalizations) during the sessions. The applicability of the programs in daily contexts and their implications for the patients involved are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari, Italy. Electronic address: giulio.lancioni@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, USA.
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.affiliation: S. Raffaele Medical Care Center, Alberobello, Italy.
authors.forename: Fiora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.affiliation: S. Raffaele Medical Care Center, Alberobello, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sasanelli
authors.affiliation: Memory Drops Day Center, Giovinazzo (BA), Italy.
authors.forename: Floriana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Vanna
authors.affiliation: Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Signorino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009146:Music; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Mild physical activity; Music; Positive participation; Technology