ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Telehealth can be an alternative action at a distance that can help as a form of motor intervention, alleviating the deleterious effects arising from social distancing on functional capacity, mental health and quality of life among older people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. PURPOSE: We aim to analyze the effects of a telehealth program on functional capacity, mental health and quality of life among older people with dementia and their caregivers. METHODS: seventy-eight individuals with mild and moderate dementia and their caregivers will answer an anamnesis and be evaluated through Clinical Dementia Assessment Score. They will also be evaluated by blinded examiners in terms of functional capacity (Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0), mental health (Mini-Mental State Examination, Clock Drawing Test, Verbal Fluency test and the Neuropsychiatric Inventor) and quality of life (Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease scale). Afterward, the volunteers will be randomized into the telehealth training group and the control group. The TR will perform systematic physical and cognitive exercises in 50-min sessions three times a week with professional monitoring, while the CG will receive non-systematized guidance, both for 12 weeks. Participants will be evaluated at baseline, immediately after the three-month interventions and with a 12-week follow- up. DISCUSSION: Technological approaches such as telehealth can be a viable alternative in home care service during times of pandemic. We expect that older people with dementia and their caregivers have high adherence to the telehealth program and improve their functional capacity, mental health and quality of life of older people with dementia. Telehealth is an alternative that can contribute to public policies and the development of effective intervention strategies that neutralize adverse outcomes. It can also be presented as an alternative to home care services, which could reduce demands for health resources.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Dementia , Telemedicine , Aged , Humans , Activities of Daily Living , Caregivers , Dementia/psychology , Mental Health , Pandemics , Quality of Life/psychology , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Telemedicine/methodsABSTRACT
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disorder that negatively affects quality of life of patients and family members. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the cognition, level of physical activity and functioning of elderly individuals with mild AD and those without dementia. METHODS: The study comprised 24 elderly with mild AD (mean age = 76.9 ± 5.3 years) and 30 elderly without dementia (mean age = 74.1 ± 5.6 years). The following instruments were applied to evaluate cognitive functions: MMSE; Frontal Assessment Battery; Clock Drawing Test; Corsi Blocks, and Verbal Paired Associates. Event-related potential P300 was used to evaluate cognitive processing. The Modified Baecke Questionnaire For Older Adults was applied to evaluate the level of physical activity together with use of a pedometer for 7 consecutive days. For the evaluation of the functioning, the Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised scale and functional tests were used. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the groups in level of physical activity and functioning, except on the test evaluating flexibility. CONCLUSION: Elderly with AD had cognitive, functional and physical activity deficits which can manifest even in the early stages of the disease.
A doença de Alzheimer é um processo neurodegenerativo e progressivo que afeta, negativamente, a qualidade de vida do paciente e de seus familiares. OBJETIVO: Comparar a cognição, nível de atividade física capacidade funcional de idosos no estágio leve da doença de Alzheimer e de idosos sem demência. MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 24 idosos no estágio leve da doença de Alzheimer (média de idade = 76,9 ± 5.3 anos) e 30 idosos sem demência (média de idade = 74,1 ± 5,6 anos). Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos de avaliação cognitiva: MEEM, Bateria de Avaliação Frontal, Teste do Desenho do Relógio, Blocos de Corsi e Pares Verbais Associados. Além disso, foi realizado o exame eletroencefalográfico P300 para avaliar o tempo de processamento de informação. Para quantificar o nível de atividade física foi utilizado o Questionário Baecke Modificado para Idosos e o pedômetro, que foi utilizado por 7 dias consecutivos. A funcionalidade foi avaliada através da escala Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised, juntamente com testes funcionais que avaliaram os componentes da capacidade funcional. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos para o nível de atividade física e funcionalidade motora, com exceção da avaliação da flexibilidade. CONCLUSÃO: Idosos com doença de Alzheimer apresentam prejuízos cognitivos, funcionais e de nível de atividade física, os quais encontram-se alterados nos estágios iniciais da doença.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disorder that negatively affects quality of life of patients and family members. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the cognition, level of physical activity and functioning of elderly individuals with mild AD and those without dementia. Methods: The study comprised 24 elderly with mild AD (mean age = 76.9 ± 5.3 years) and 30 elderly without dementia (mean age = 74.1 ± 5.6 years). The following instruments were applied to evaluate cognitive functions: MMSE; Frontal Assessment Battery; Clock Drawing Test; Corsi Blocks, and Verbal Paired Associates. Event-related potential P300 was used to evaluate cognitive processing. The Modified Baecke Questionnaire For Older Adults was applied to evaluate the level of physical activity together with use of a pedometer for 7 consecutive days. For the evaluation of the functioning, the Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised scale and functional tests were used. Results: There was a significant difference between the groups in level of physical activity and functioning, except on the test evaluating flexibility. Conclusion: Elderly with AD had cognitive, functional and physical activity deficits which can manifest even in the early stages of the disease.
RESUMO A doença de Alzheimer é um processo neurodegenerativo e progressivo que afeta, negativamente, a qualidade de vida do paciente e de seus familiares. Objetivo: Comparar a cognição, nível de atividade física capacidade funcional de idosos no estágio leve da doença de Alzheimer e de idosos sem demência. Métodos: Participaram deste estudo 24 idosos no estágio leve da doença de Alzheimer (média de idade = 76,9 ± 5.3 anos) e 30 idosos sem demência (média de idade = 74,1 ± 5,6 anos). Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos de avaliação cognitiva: MEEM, Bateria de Avaliação Frontal, Teste do Desenho do Relógio, Blocos de Corsi e Pares Verbais Associados. Além disso, foi realizado o exame eletroencefalográfico P300 para avaliar o tempo de processamento de informação. Para quantificar o nível de atividade física foi utilizado o Questionário Baecke Modificado para Idosos e o pedômetro, que foi utilizado por 7 dias consecutivos. A funcionalidade foi avaliada através da escala Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised, juntamente com testes funcionais que avaliaram os componentes da capacidade funcional. Resultados: Foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos para o nível de atividade física e funcionalidade motora, com exceção da avaliação da flexibilidade. Conclusão: Idosos com doença de Alzheimer apresentam prejuízos cognitivos, funcionais e de nível de atividade física, os quais encontram-se alterados nos estágios iniciais da doença.
