Cognitive training for patients with dementia living in a sicilian nursing home: a novel web-based approach.

Abstract

Dementia is an increasing challenge for health care and social system in developed countries. Interventions with a cognitive focus, also using assistive technology, are leading to promising results in improving cognitive and behavior symptoms in individuals with dementia. Aim of our study was to evaluate the combined effects of the standard cognitive training in addition to web-based rehabilitation in dementia people living in a nursing home. We have studied twenty dementia people (10 females and 10 males) with a mild to moderate cognitive decline (MMSE 25±3.4) associated to moderate behavioral alterations, and mainly due to vascular causes. These patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups (experimental or standard treatment-namely the control group). All participants in the experimental group completed the specific training, consisting of 24 sessions of web-based cognitive training, for 8weeks, in addition to standard rehabilitation. Each participant was evaluated by a skilled neuropsychologist before and after each treatment. The experimental group had a statistically significant change of the Geriatric Depression Scale (p=0.03), Constructive Apraxia (p<0.001), Matrices Attentive (p=0.01), and Mini Mental State Examination (p=0.04). Web-based cognitive rehabilitation can be useful in improving cognitive performance, besides psychological well-being, in demented individuals living in home care.