Effectiveness of a community-based multidomain cognitive intervention program in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a multidomain program in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods A total of 53 patients with probable AD participated in the present study. The participants were classified to a cognitive programming group (n = 32) and control group (n = 21). Participants in the cognitive intervention program received multidomain cognitive stimulation including art, music, recollection and horticultural therapy, each period of intervention lasting 1 h. This program was repeated five times per week over a period of 6 months at the Seongdong‐gu Center for Dementia. The Mini‐Mental State Examination, the Korean version of Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease, Clinical dementia rating scales, and the Korean version of the Quality of Life‐Alzheimer's Disease were used to evaluate cognitive ability at baseline and after intervention. After 6 months, cognitive abilities were compared between patients actively participating in cognitive intervention and the pharmacotherapy only group. Results Patients receiving cognitive intervention showed significant cognitive improvement in the word‐list recognition and recall test scores versus the control. There was no change in the overall Clinical dementia rating score, but the domain of community affairs showed a significant improvement in the cognitive intervention group. Quality of Life‐Alzheimer's Disease of caregivers was slightly improved in the cognitive intervention group after 6 months. Discussion Multidomain cognitive intervention by regional dementia centers has great potential in helping to maintain cognitive function in patients with dementia, increase their social activity and reduce depression, while enhancing the quality of life of caregivers. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 191–199.