Non-pharmacological interventions and quality of life of people with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Abstract – Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a physical, psychological and socioeconomic impact and reduces people's quality of life (QOL). Although, in dementia, QOL does not necessarily decrease as dementia progresses. In the absence of a cure, people with AD (PWAD) require evidence-based treatment, care and support to slow disease progression and improve or at least maintain health-related QOL. The aim was to conduct a study on the impact of NPI on the QOL of PWAD. A sample of forty patients undergoing non-pharmacological intervention (NPI) and another of forty patients from the “control group” (CG) were included. Data collected included sociodemographic, clinical, cognitive, and functional information, as well as QOL. The group that received NPI obtained better results than the CG in the second assessment regarding scores on functional, cognitive and QOL assessment tests. Regarding the results obtained in the assessment of QOL with the QOL-AD in the two evaluation moments and in the two groups evaluated, the “intervention group” (IG) obtained better results than the CG in the second evaluation, which indicates that the NPI allows the occurrence of health gains. The means obtained regarding the health status values through the application of the EQ-5D-3L instrument in 80 patients demonstrated that people in the IG suffered less deterioration in their health status. This study supports the recommendation that tailored interventions for AD patients be implemented, including NPIs that improve QOL.