Dementia
Dementia: MAKS system slows forgetfulness
Dementia has different reasons – but no matter how fast it progresses, it always means that the brain is running low. If consider the four pillars of dementia MAKS system, they can stop the decline.
The symptoms of dementia range from confusion, memory loss and speech problems to difficulties in understanding. With the time constraints characterize the disease is more widespread and can be used both for the victims and their relatives and carers to be a big burden. Drugs can slow the mental deterioration. The same behavior is also achieved by rules that have introduced the four pillars of the MAKS-therapy, the researchers from Erlangen in “BMC Medicine”.
The researchers led by Elmar Gräßel of the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-related dementia patients in their study of five Bavarian nursing homes. By chance, half of them either the one-year program MAKS-assigned or further treated with medication as normal. The participants of the MAKS-group received two hours of group therapy, six days per week and beyond their normal medications and therapies offered by the respective nursing homes.
No degradation after twelve months
The MAKS system is based on four pillars: the motor stimulation (M) includes, for example, bowling, croquet, or balance exercises. Daily activities (A) include the preparation of small meals, gardening or crafts. The cognitive stimulation (K) consists of individual or group puzzles. In addition to the ten-minute introduction to each group therapy is a “spiritual element” (S) – the participants will discuss topics such as happiness or sing songs.
After twelve months of their study participants, the researchers re-examined and classified them on the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS), a – a scale determined by the doctors, how advanced the disease already is. For the MAKS-participants showed no deterioration of their brain power. The control group, however, had decreased during this period measurable mentally.
Particularly benefit from moderate dementia
“The best results were achieved for patients with mild to moderate dementia. The effect of the MAKS-therapy on cognitive function was at least as good as treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors, “says Gräßel. Patients in the MAKS program came in everyday deal twice as good as their conventionally treated fellow sufferers.
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Diseases, Health Care | Tegoeh Chuzy | December 1, 2011
Dementia, Dementia Patients, Elmar Grel, Group Therapy, MAKS, MAKS system, MAKS-therapy, Mental Deterioration, Symptoms Of Dementia
