A single blind randomized controlled trial of global postural re-education: Cognitive effects on Alzheimer disease patients

Abstract

Background and objectivesBased on the Alzheimer disease (AD) prevention and slowing down, this study has shown interest in evaluating the effects of Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) on the cognitiveness of individuals with AD. It is important to verify that by modifying and improving postural attitudes through GPR, a better concentration of cognitions in older people is achieved, increases self-awareness and proprioception in comparison with the effects of frequent therapies implemented in elderly centers. MethodsA randomized controlled clinical trial with parallel assignment and single blind outcomes assessment analysis was deployed. 135 patients with AD (46 male and 89 female; average age=80.7; SD=5.32) were randomly allocated to either the GPR group or control group. The patients in GPR group underwent 2 weekly/30–40min sessions each for a period of 24 week versus the control group that did not receive any specific therapy except of residences daily conventional protocol exercises. To evaluate the cognitivity of both groups were used the Mini Mental State Examination questionnaire (MMSE); for the depression were Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), for the quality of life was Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD) and for the autonomy and equilibrium were Barthel Index (BI) and Tinetti Scale (TS). ResultsThe experimental group showed a significant increase in the cognitive abilities in the end of treatment compared with control one (p<0.005). Beyond this, statistically significant results were achieved concerning the variables such as: quality of life, depression, neuropsychological symptoms, autonomy, and equilibrium (p<0.005 in all cases) by comparing the difference between groups and effect size results. ConclusionThis study demonstrates feasibility concerning GPR on individuals with AD.