Abstract
This study focused on the assessment of a program recently developed for helping patients with moderate Alzheimer’s disease engage in computer-mediated verbal reminiscence (Lancioni et al., 2014a). Sixteen participants were involved in the study. Six of them used the original program version with the computer showing a virtual partner posing questions and providing attention and guidance. The other 10 used a slightly modified program version with the computer presenting photos and videos and providing encouragements to talk as well as attention and guidance. Participants were exposed to brief program sessions individually. The results showed that 15 participants (five of those using the first version and all of those using the second version) had a clear and lasting increase in verbal engagement/reminiscence during the intervention sessions with the program. Those 15 participants had mean percentages of intervals with verbal engagement/reminiscence below 10 during baseline and between about 45 and 75 during the intervention. The results’ implications and the need for new research were discussed.
Highlights
IntroductionAlzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes a progressive decline of the person’s general condition, which is reflected in a gradual loss of independence, with a reduction of activity, social interaction, and verbal engagement (De Leo et al, 2011; Melrose et al, 2011; Ambrose, 2012; Bernick et al, 2012; Soto et al, 2012; Spalletta et al, 2012; Wilson et al, 2012; Sikkes et al, 2013; Perri et al, 2014)
This study focused on the assessment of such a verbal engagement/reminiscence program to gather new evidence as to its practical consistency, that is, its ability to support verbal reminiscence independent of staff or therapist’s guidance (Barlow et al, 2009; Lazar et al, 2014)
No comparisons were made between the two program versions, the results of this study and of the one by Lancioni et al (2014a) suggest that both might be viable solutions for promoting independent verbal engagement/reminiscence in persons with moderate Alzheimer’s disease
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes a progressive decline of the person’s general condition, which is reflected in a gradual loss of independence, with a reduction of activity, social interaction, and verbal engagement (De Leo et al, 2011; Melrose et al, 2011; Ambrose, 2012; Bernick et al, 2012; Soto et al, 2012; Spalletta et al, 2012; Wilson et al, 2012; Sikkes et al, 2013; Perri et al, 2014). Recommended behavioral intervention strategies for persons in the earlier stages of the disease have focused, among others, on assisting those persons with the: (a) performance of daily activities; (b) orientation and travel in indoor and limited outdoor areas; and (c) verbal reminiscence (Lancioni et al, 2010, 2012, 2013a,b, 2014b; Caffò et al, 2012, 2014; Crete-Nishihata et al, 2012; Serrani Azcurra, 2012; Subramaniam and Woods, 2012; Cavallo et al, 2013; Lanza et al, 2014; Singh et al, 2014; Wingbermuehle et al, 2014). The participants saw a virtual partner on the computer screen who posed questions about their past experiences and provided them with positive attention and verbal guidance (prompts/encouragements)
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