Affiliations: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Vita-Salute
San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy | Division of Neurology, San Raffaele Turro Hospital,
Milan, Italy | CUSSB – University Statistics Centre for
Biomedical Sciences, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
Note: [] Corresponding author: Alberto Raggi, Division of Neurology,
Ospedale San Raffaele Turro, Via Stamira d'Ancona 20, 20127 Milan, Italy. Tel.:
+39 02 26433305; Fax: +39 02 26433394; E-mail: raggi.alberto@hsr.it
Abstract: Introduction. The evidence for the clinical effectiveness of cognitive
rehabilitation in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is debated. Therefore
it is important to collect more evidence about the outcome of
non-pharmacological therapy of dementia. Material and Methods. We report
data concerning the rehabilitation of 50 patients with probable AD admitted
during a 17-month period in a specialized unit. Participants were affected by
dementia ranging from mild to severe. The patients were treated with the
Reality Orientation Therapy (ROT), integrated, when needed, with individualised
cognitive approaches. The results concern: the cognitive status, evaluated by
means of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the functional status,
evaluated with the Activity of Daily Living (ADL) scale, the assessment of
psychological and behavioural disorders measured with the Neuropsychiatry
Inventory (NPI). The cognitive, functional, and psychopathological assessments
were administered at admission and discharge. Results. The mean MMSE
scores at admission and discharge were respectively 16.06 and 17.54 (Wilcoxon
Ranks Test: p=0.005). Mean ADL scores were 4.86 at admission and 5.02 at
discharge (p=0.011). Mean NPI scores were respectively 21.46 and 12.26
(p<0.001). Conclusions. This survey of the 17-month experience
suggests that a comprehensive treatment program may have beneficial effects on
cognitive, functional, and in particular neuropsychiatric outcomes. The results
should be verified with a randomised clinical trial.
