Could Self-Consciousness Be Enhanced in Alzheimer’s Disease? An Approach from Emotional Sensorial Stimulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 505-521
Author(s):  
Eva M. Arroyo-Anlló ◽  
Jorge Chamorro Sánchez ◽  
Roger Gil
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Personal Identity ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Autobiographical Memories ◽  
Sensorial Stimulation ◽  
Musical Cues ◽  
Positive Effect

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) provides a valuable field of research into impairment of self-consciousness (SC), because AD patients have a reduced capacity to understand their mental world, to experience and relive previous personal events, as well as to interpret thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about themselves. Several studies observed that AD patients had an altered SC, but not a complete abolition of it. Emotions are an integral part of the construction of personal identity, therefore of Self. In general, most studies on emotion in AD patients have observed that emotion is not completely abolished and it lets them better remember autobiographical events with greater emotional charge. The positive effect of autobiographical memories rich in emotional content, evoked directly/automatically by sensorial stimuli such as familiar odors or music, could be used to reestablish/reinforce the permanence and coherence of the Self in AD. We studied the research of empirical evidence supporting the power of the sensorial cues associated with emotion, which could be capable of enhancing the SC in AD. We presented the studies about “Emotional stimulations” using odor, music, or taste cues in AD. All studies have shown to have a positive impact on SC in AD patients such as odor-evoked autobiographical memories, taste/odor-evoked autobiographical memories, emotional sensorial stimulation using musical cues, and multi-sensorial stimulations using healing gardens. We found research supporting the notion that emotional sensorial stimulations can even temporarily exalt memory, affective state, and personal identity, that is, the SC in AD. The emotional sensory stimulations could be used as a tool to activate the SC in AD and hence improve the quality of life of patients and caregivers.

scholarly journals The Importance of Exercise in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Minds in Motion® Program: An Editorial

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Jessica Watson ◽  
Nathan O’Keeffe ◽  
Sarah L. West
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Exercise Interventions

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other dementias are prevalent neurodegenerative diseases characterized by decreased cognition, physical function, and quality of life. Currently, millions of people are living with AD and other dementias. With no cure, research has examined the use of non-pharmacological treatment options including exercise. Many high-quality studies demonstrate that physical activity slows the progression of AD’s many outcomes, and is beneficial to overall quality of life in those living with AD. However, creating exercise interventions at the community level that individuals will adhere to is often a challenge. The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada developed a unique program that combines physical activity with cognitive stimulation in a social atmosphere: The Minds in Motion® program. Minds in Motion® addresses many of the barriers often linked to poor physical activity participation in chronic diseases (such as inclusion of the care partner), to ensure the best program uptake. The Minds in Motion® program has anecdotally been successful in helping to increase physical function and social skills in those living with dementia. However, it is important to connect community-driven programs with the academic research community, to create an opportunity for high quality evaluation metrics that can be disseminated at multiple levels: to research audiences, clinical audiences, and to those in the community. With ongoing collaborations between research and community programs, there is a greater opportunity to understand the positive impact of a program, which ultimately increases the chance of funding for the program. In this editorial, we highlight that community-integrated research is an important priority for future collaborations.

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

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Machado ◽  
Paula V. Nunes ◽  
Luciane F. Viola ◽  
Franklin S. Santos ◽  
Orestes V. Forlenza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Functional Rehabilitation ◽  
Open Question

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.

Eliciting Music-Evoked Autobiographical Memories (MEAMs) in Individuals with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case Series

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deanna Choi
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Classical Music ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Emotional Reaction ◽  
Autobiographical Memories

Numerous studies have examined the possibility that listening to music facilitates learning and memory, and various music therapy interventions have yielded promising results for individuals with pathological amnesic disorders. However, the mechanisms by which such phenomena operate are largely unknown. Here I will pursue the hypothesis that music processing pathways are linked to autobiographical memory networks, allowing the spontaneous activation of memories for personal events (music-evoked autobiographical memories, or MEAMs). These reminiscences are often of a pleasant or nostalgic nature, inducing a positive affective state. These emotions, in turn, elicit a sense of identity and self-awareness that contributes to psychological well-being. I will present data from a series of participants diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease, all of whom have varying degrees of short-term memory deficits and cognitive impairments. After listening to a 30-second musical excerpt (in a total sequence of 24), they were asked to describe any memories that may have been conjured by the music, as well as their overall attitude, familiarity, and emotional reaction towards the piece. The experimental stimuli included 12 pieces from a well-known repertory of instrumental classical music, which were matched to 12 similar excerpts controlled for instrumentation, tempo, mode, and stylistic patterns. I video-recorded the interviews, analyzing both verbal and behavioural responses to the musical excerpts played. Data will be compared with that obtained from healthy controls. I will then discuss the implications of the current pilot project towards future studies and potential applications in clinical settings.

Case Studies in Dementia-Related Anxiety

GeroPsych ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Molly Maxfield ◽  
Jennifer R. Roberts ◽  
JoAnna Dieker
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorder ◽  
High Genetic Risk ◽  
Disease Case ◽  
Negative Perceptions

Abstract. Two clients seeking neuropsychological assessment reported anxiety about their cognitive status. We review the cases to increase our understanding of factors contributing to dementia-related anxiety. Case 1 met the criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder; the client’s memory was impaired, and she had a high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The client reported anxiety about negative perceptions of quality of life among individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Case 2 did not meet the criteria for a neurocognitive disorder. Anxiety about this client’s cognitive status appeared attributable to generalized anxiety disorder, given his anxiety about diverse topics. Both clients reported embarrassment about forgetfulness and social withdrawal. Dementia-related anxiety is believed to be relatively common, to exist on a continuum, to have unique social implications, and to stem from various sources, necessitating differing interventions.

Validación de la escala Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD) en pacientes mexicanos con demencia tipo Alzheimer, vascular y mixta

2010 ◽  
Vol 51 (02) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Rosas Carrasco ◽  
Laura del Pilar Torres Arreola ◽  
María de Guadalupe Guerra Silla ◽  
Sara Torres Castro ◽  
Luis Miguel Gutiérrez Robledo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease

Integrated Biomarkers for Depression in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Critical Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Wenzler ◽  
Christian Knochel ◽  
Ceylan Balaban ◽  
Dominik Kraft ◽  
Juliane Kopf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Affect Regulation ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Manifestation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Control Functional

Depression is a common neuropsychiatric manifestation among Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. It may compromise everyday activities and lead to a faster cognitive decline as well as worse quality of life. The identification of promising biomarkers may therefore help to timely initiate and improve the treatment of preclinical and clinical states of AD, and to improve the long-term functional outcome. In this narrative review, we report studies that investigated biomarkers for AD-related depression. Genetic findings state AD-related depression as a rather complex, multifactorial trait with relevant environmental and inherited contributors. However, one specific set of genes, the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), specifically the Val66Met polymorphism, may play a crucial role in AD-related depression. Regarding neuroimaging markers, the most promising findings reveal structural impairments in the cortico-subcortical networks that are related to affect regulation and reward / aversion control. Functional imaging studies reveal abnormalities in predominantly frontal and temporal regions. Furthermore, CSF based biomarkers are seen as potentially promising for the diagnostic process showing abnormalities in metabolic pathways that contribute to AD-related depression. However, there is a need for standardization of methodological issues and for replication of current evidence with larger cohorts and prospective studies.

Assessing Alzheimer's disease patients' quality of life: Discrepancies between patient and caregiver perspectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandrine Andrieu ◽  
Nicola Coley ◽  
Yves Rolland ◽  
Christelle Cantet ◽  
Catherine Arnaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease
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