Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Non-Pharmacological Treatment

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Delgado, J., Bowman, K., & Clare, L. (2020). Potentially inappropriate prescribing in dementia: A state-of-the-art review since 2007. BMJ Open, 10(1), 1-9. Web.

The authors touch upon the problem of increased risk of inappropriate mediation and adverse drug effects emerging while treating dementia. The investigators aim at determining factors that might be associated with inappropriate prescribing among older individuals. They conclude that the issue remains a serious concern, while the specific conditions leading to wrong treatment remain unclear. It means there is a need for additional investigation and research to determine these factors and reduce the risk of complications.

Diehl, K., Kratzer, A., & Graessel, E. (2020). The MAKS-s study: Multicomponent non-pharmacological intervention for people with severe dementia in inpatient care–study protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 1-12. Web.

The study focuses on investigating MAKS-s, the non-pharmacological group intervention that might help people with dementia and manage their symptoms. The authors plan to evaluate its impact on the quality of life and analyze the burden carried by caregivers. It is assumed that the acquired results will help to determine whether MAKS-s can be used in specific settings and help patients to benefit from better outcomes.

Dijk, M. T., Tabak, S., Hertogh, C. M., Kok, R. M., van Marum, R. J., Zuidema, S. U., Sizoo, E. M., & Smalbrugge, M. (2022). Psychotropic drug treatment for agitated behaviour in dementia: What if the guideline prescribing recommendations are not sufficient? A qualitative study. Age and Ageing, 51(9), 1-10. Web.

The study delves into the problem of agitation among patients with dementia and its treatment. The behavior might have a negative impact on patients’ quality of life, meaning it is vital to manage it effectively. The research focuses on decisions made by physicians regarding drug treatment for agitated behavior. The authors conclude that underlying causes of agitation serve as the basis for selecting the treatment model and assisting patients with dementia.

Hachinski, V., Einhäupl, K., Ganten, D., Alladi, S., Brayne, C., Stephan, B. C. & Khachaturian, Z. S. (2019). Preventing dementia by preventing stroke: the Berlin Manifesto. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 15(7), 961-984. Web.

The article offers the idea that dementia and stroke are two factors conferring risks for each other. Moreover, both these conditions are preventable, meaning there is a chance to avoid negative outcomes. The authors consider the program offered by the World Stroke Organization and provide evidence for translating the major assumptions of the program into action. These include raising awareness, educating patients, and monitoring their states to ensure that timely and effective interventions are used.

Hayward, J. K., Gould, C., Palluotto, E., Kitson, E., Fisher, E. R., & Spector, A. (2022). Interventions promoting family involvement with care homes following placement of a relative with dementia: A systematic review. Dementia, 21(2), 618–647. Web.

The offered review outlines the role of family involvement and how it can be measured. The authors answer which interventions with family involvement are evaluated and whether they have a positive impact on patients with dementia. They conclude there is uncertainty about how to organize and select the best possible family involvement option and guarantee it will help patients to enjoy an enhanced quality of life.

Healthy People. (2020). Dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease. Web.

The source outlines the current goals associated with mental diseases. Thus, it states that it is vital to reduce the morbidity and costs linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and maintain and enhance the quality of life of people with these conditions. The issue is crucial as it remains one of the leading causes of death among adults. For this reason, its better management is vital for modern healthcare.

Lee, S. W. H., Mak, V. S. L., & Tang, Y. W. (2019). Pharmacist services in nursing homes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 85(12), 2668-2688. Web.

The authors explore the role of a pharmacist in nursing homes as, at the moment, it remains unknown. The researchers review six electronic databases to find articles linked to the issue and collect information necessary for the conclusion. The study shows that pharmacists play an important role in nursing homes’ functioning as they guarantee a higher quality of medication and help to avoid medication errors, which is vital for patient health outcomes.

Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S. & Mukadam, N. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 396(10248), 413-446. Web.

The article outlines that the number of older people is growing, which explains the increased topicality of dementia prevention and interventions for its treatment. The study revolves around the 12 risk factors for the emergence of the condition that can be modified as the part of the prevention strategy. The authors assume that specific actions and prevention awareness might help improve the condition of patients with dementia and significantly reduce the risk of its emergence.

Marazziti, D., Avella, M. T., Ivaldi, T., Palermo, S., Massa, L., Vecchia, A. D., Basile, L., & Mucci, F. (2021). Neuroenhancement: State of the art and future perspectives. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 18(3), 137–169. Web.

The primary aim of the paper is to review and analyze the literature on neuroenhancement following the Prisma guidelines. The authors conclude that healthy subjects broadly use the prescribed drugs for various purposes. Moreover, illicit drugs and soft drugs might also be used as a method to enhance cognitive function. However, the problem remains complex and requires additional investigation.

McDermott, C. L., & Gruenewald, D. A. (2019). Pharmacologic management of agitation in patients with dementia. Current Geriatrics Reports, 8(1), 1-11. Web.

The central purpose of the review is to summarize the existing knowledge on the pharmacologic management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and offer recommendations about their relevance in the current practice. Evaluating studies from 2013 to 2018, the authors conclude that anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and anti-epileptics with cholinesterase inhibitors are widely used in practice. At the same time, the authors admit the need for additional research to improve knowledge of the issue.

Mesquida, M. M., Casas, M. T., Sisó, A. F., Muñoz, I.-G., Vian, Ó. H., & Monserrat, P. T. (2019). Consensus and evidence-based medication review to optimize and potentially reduce psychotropic drug prescription in institutionalized dementia patients. BMC Geriatrics, 19(7), 1-9. Web.

The central goal of the study is to create a consensus-based intervention between care levels to attain a significant reduction in using psychotropic drugs among institutionalized patients with dementia. Using the quasi-experimental approach, they conclude that the approach offered by them can help to attain the desired goal and reduce the use of drugs when addressing dementia and helping patients feel better and cope with the main symptoms of the discussed disease.

Pasina, L., Novella, A., Cortesi, L., Nobili, A., Tettamanti, M., & Ianes, A. (2020). Drug prescriptions in nursing home residents: An Italian multicenter observational study. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 76(7), 1011-1019. Web.

The authors conduct the study to target specific interventions that might help to improve prescribing for patients with dementia in nursing homes. The results of the investigation conducted in the Italian long-term care facility show that there is a need for a standardized approach to medication review of drugs used when managing dementia among patients in nursing homes. It will help to attain better results and reduce the risk of mistakes or inappropriate prescriptions.

Simonetti, A., Pais, C., Jones, M., Cipriani, M. C., Janiri, D., Monti, L. & Sani, G. (2020). Neuropsychiatric symptoms in elderly with dementia during COVID-19 pandemic: definition, treatment, and future directions. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 579842. Web.

The authors state that the neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia might be linked to poor care outcomes. For this reason, the study focuses on reviewing and describing behavioral and psychopathological alterations among subjects with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The information might help to create better caregiver support and ensure all patients’ states are considered to avoid undesired effects or critical deterioration in their states.

Sousa, L., Neves, M. J., Moura, B., Schneider, J., & Fernandes, L. (2021). Music‐based interventions for people living with dementia, targeting behavioral and psychological symptoms: A scoping review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 36(11), 1664-1690. Web.

The authors state that dementia care is a central health concern globally. It means that the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms is extremely complex. Thus, using non-pharmacological strategies might be one of the possible ways to assist this cohort of patients and attain improvement. The authors conclude that individualization is central to managing the symptoms mentioned above, while there is a gap in understanding how interventions and reporting should be organized to enhance practice.

Varkonyi-Sepp, J., Freeman, A., Ainsworth, B., Kadalayil, L. P., Haitchi, H. M., & Kurukulaaratchy, R. J. (2022). Multimorbidity in difficult asthma: The need for personalized and non-pharmacological approaches to address a difficult breathing syndrome. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 12(9), 1435. Web.

The authors investigate the problems individuals with difficult asthma face. The review conducted by them aims at finding difficulties with conceptualizing difficult-to-treat asthma as a multimorbid condition and offering measures to address it. The article also offers a roadmap for evidence-based and multi-disciplinary care that might help to support individuals with this condition and ensure a significant improvement in the quality of their lives. It increases the practical utility of the paper and its relevance.

Wang, J., Zhang, G., Min, M., Xing, Y., Chen, H., Li, C., Li, C., Zhou, H., & Li, X. (2022). Developing a non-pharmacological intervention programme for wandering in people with dementia: Recommendations for healthcare providers in nursing homes. Brain Sciences, 12(10), 1–20. Web.

The authors revolve around the problem of wandering among people with dementia. They state that the stigma linked to the issue prevents families from looking for additional information about the subject. For this reason, the article offers an evidence-based and culturally appropriate program that might help to increase awareness and help patients with dementia who have wandering issues. Using these recommendations, it is possible to minimize the risk of injuries and attain better outcomes.

Webster, L., Costafreda, S. G., Powell, K., & Livingston, G. (2022). How do care home staff use non-pharmacological strategies to manage sleep disturbances in residents with dementia: The SIESTA qualitative study. PLOS ONE, 17(8), 1-14. Web.

The researchers outline the prevalence of sleep disturbances among people with dementia. The study investigates the techniques used by care home staff to manage this problem. The authors conclude that it is vital to consider the difficulties health workers face, such as limiting daytime napping, determining residents’ night-time needs, and their personal characteristics. Considering these issues, it is possible to ensure a better approach to managing sleep issues is created and used.

World Health Organization. (2022). Dementia. Web.

The website of the World Health Organization offers credible information about dementia. The source lists the key facts related to the conditions, signs and symptoms, major forms, and treatment. Additionally, it enumerates risks that arise because of the health issue. Finally, it gives information about how WHO responds to dementia and what methods can be selected. In such a way, the source cultivates an enhanced understanding of dementia in general and the central factors linked to it.

Yorozuya, K., Kubo, Y., Tomiyama, N., Yamane, S., & Hanaoka, H. (2019). A systematic review of multimodal non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive function in older people with dementia in nursing homes. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 48(1–2), 1–16. Web.

The study delves into the peculiarities of multimodal non-pharmacological interventions (MNPIs) and their impact on cognitive function. The central aim is to investigate the effects, contents, duration, frequency, and form of MNPIs on global and specific cognitive functions. The authors conclude that the intervention may enhance the memory, executive function, and functioning of people with dementia. For this reason, it can be one of the approaches used to maintain the high quality of their lives.

Zucchella, C., Sinforiani, E., Tamburin, S., Federico, A., Mantovani, E., Bernini, S. & Bartolo, M. (2018). The multidisciplinary approach to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A narrative review of non-pharmacological treatment. Frontiers in Neurology, 9, 1058. Web.

The study reviews the existing evidence on non-pharmacological treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The selected chronic diseases remain topical nowadays, and the number of new cases is rising. For this reason, the authors review PubMed and Cochrane databases to determine the effectiveness of the discussed intervention. They conclude that supporting evidence remains preliminary, meaning there is a need for additional research to conclude whether non-pharmacological treatment might be considered an effective measure for managing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

References

Delgado, J., Bowman, K., & Clare, L. (2020). Potentially inappropriate prescribing in dementia: A state-of-the-art review since 2007. BMJ Open, 10(1), 1-9. Web.

Healthy People. (2020). Dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease. Web.

Lee, S. W. H., Mak, V. S. L., & Tang, Y. W. (2019). Pharmacist services in nursing homes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 85(12), 2668-2688. Web.

McDermott, C. L., & Gruenewald, D. A. (2019). Pharmacologic management of agitation in patients with dementia. Current Geriatrics Reports, 8(1), 1-11. Web.

World Health Organization. (2022). Dementia. Web.