Dementia & Neuropsychologia ()

Quality of life and Alzheimer's disease: Influence of participation at a rehabilitation center

  • Fernanda Machado,
  • Paula V. Nunes,
  • Luciane F. Viola,
  • Franklin S. Santos,
  • Orestes V. Forlenza,
  • Mônica S. Yassuda

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-57642009DN30300011
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 3
pp. 241 – 247

Abstract

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Abstract Quality of life is seldom explored in evaluations of therapeutic interventions in Alzheimer's disease. Objective: To verify whether participation in a cognitive and functional rehabilitation program improves quality of life (QOL) among Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Methods: 19 AD patients participated in this study, 12 of whom attended 24 multi-professional intervention sessions - the experimental group - whereas the remaining 7 comprised the control group. The following tools were used to assess changes: a) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); b) Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); c) Quality of Life in AD evaluation scale (QOL-AD); d) Open question on QOL. Results: Participation had no positive impact on quantitative clinical variables (MMSE, GDS, QOL-AD). The answers to the open question, examined using the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) method, suggested that QOL improved after the intervention. Conclusion: Combining pharmacological treatment with psychosocial intervention may prove to be an effective strategy to enhance the QOL of AD patients.

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