Dementia researchers find non-drug intervention 'at least' as effective as medications in halting disease progression - McKnight's Long Term Care News

A non-drug dementia intervention piloted in German nursing homes proved as effective as medications in halting progression of disease, a new study reveals.

Scientists followed dementia patients from five Bavarian nursing homes for 12 months, with half of the residents receiving each facility's standard treatment, and half receiving those treatments plus a new intervention program.

After a year, researchers compared participants in test and control groups using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale. They found that in residents with mild to moderate dementia, the non-medication therapy was “at least as good as treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors.” Additionally, the effect of the therapy on the Erlanger's Test of Daily Living was “twice as high” as results achieved by medication, researchers said.

via www.mcknights.com