Can Neurofeedback Help With Dementia & Alzheimer’s symptoms?
This study describes how neurofeedback was used to treat 20 people aged between 52 and 87 suffering dementia:
9 with Alzheimer’s, and 11 with vascular dementia. After an average of 45 hours of neurofeedback, they showed improvements in 3 independent measures:
1.An average increase of 6 points on the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE).The MMSE is the most widely used test for assessing cognitive functioning, in this study the assessment was done by a neuropsychiatrist ‘blindly’. It has a maximum score of 30, and the mean ‘before’ score was 19, therefore 6 points is an average 32% improvement. This effect was statistically significant.
2.Increases in all 4 measures on the TOVA (Test of Variables of Attention) continuous performance test. The reduction in commission errors (an indication of self-control) was statistically significant.
3.Reduction in Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) severity scale from an average of 3.9 to 2.3, i.e. 41% reduction. This effect was statistically significant.
This recent thesis describes a study in which 10 patients with Alzheimer’s Disease were treated with neurofeedback, and concluded that “neurofeedback has a positive effect on the cognitive performance of patients with Alzheimer’s Disease”:
This 2008 study describes how Neurofeedback was used with elderly people judged at risk of developing Dementia, which improved their verbal comprehension and associated brainwave patterns:
This 2009 study found that the memory of Dementia patients was “significantly improved” following Neurofeedback training, and observed that it was more effective for patients at an early stage of dementia:
What is Dementia ?
When someone after the age of 65 loses his or her cognitive abilities, at a rate greater that the ‘normal’ stages of aging and without previous problems, he or she might be suffering Dementia.
It is normal for our congnitive functions to decline with age, but if the ability to think, remember or reason deetriorates to such an extent that it interfers with daily life, this is the clinical definition of Dementia.
Note that the decline of cognitive functions is not Dementia; Dementia is when this decline reaches the point when it interferes with everyday life.
When this loss of abilities occurs before the age of 65, it is called ‘early onset dementia’. A well-known and common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. In general two classification of dementia are used – reversible or irreversible – depending on the cause of the affected cognitive areas. The cause of Dementia is widely contributed to damage in the brain. The brain can be damaged by several causes, such as infections, interruptions in the brain’s blood supply or by neurodegenerative diseases. In the case of neurodegenerative diseases, brain cells degenerate and die quicker than usually is expected with ‘normal aging’. This degenerating impacts and reduces one’s cognitive and sometimes physical abilities.
Symptoms of Dementia
A general description of Dementia used is ‘an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities’. However, there are many specific types and causes of dementia and symptoms one experiences and shows differ from person to person. The main assumption though, is that associated symptoms must be present for at least six months to support a diagnosis of Dementia.
Symptoms of Dementia |
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Memory loss |
Decreased understanding / ability to learn |
Reduced thinking speed |
Attention problems |
Difficulties finding the right word |
Lack of judgment / reason |
Difficulties retaining or recalling past experiences |
Disoriented in time, place and in person |
Losing interest in social activities |
Incontinency |
Disorganised, restless behaviour |
Sudden mood swings (tears or anger) |
Depression |
Anxiety |
Psychosis (delusions of persecution) |
Treatment for Dementia
In exceptional cases of Dementia, dietary supplements and surgery can help. However, more often Dementia is progressive and there isn’t a ‘cure’. Medication is mostly prescribed to modify risk factors, prevent symptoms getting worse or for coexisting conditions, such as Depression. Psychological treatments, such as Cognitive Stimulation, Reality Orientation Therapy, Validation Therapy and Behavioural therapy can provide support in dealing with the symptoms of Dementia.
Neurofeedback and Dementia
Neurofeedback isn’t a ‘cure’ either and it cannot reverse structural damage or deterioration in the brain, such as that occurring with Alzheimer’s disease, where brain cells are lost. However, with Neurofeedback training the function of the healthy parts of the brain can be maximised, physiological self-regulation can be maintained and the onset of some symptoms can be delayed. It should be noted though, that with Dementia, Neurofeedback has to be applied frequently and maybe even indefinitely to sustain improvement and prevent relapse. It is very likely that Neurofeedback will become a regular part of elderly care in the future, to fight against the decline of mental faculties and prolonging healthy brains in humans.
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