Affiliations: [a] Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología y Servicios de Salud, Área Envejecimiento, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, Mexico City, México | [b] Comisionada a la Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital General Regional No 1 Doctor Carlos Mac Gregor Sánchez Navarro IMSS, Mexico City, México | [c] Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition “Salvador Zubirán”, National Institutes of Health, Mexico City, Mexico
| [d] Departamento de Medicina de Cuidados Críticos, Hospital Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, Instituto Mexicano de Seguridad Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| [e] Epidemiology, Endocrinology & Nutrition Research, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gomez; (SSA), Mexico City, Mexico
| [f] Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Teresa Juárez Cedillo, PhD, Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital General Regional No 1 Doctor Carlos Mac Gregor Sánchez Navarro, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Gabriel Mancera 222, Col del Valle Nte, 03103 Ciudad de México, CDMX, México. Tel.: +52 50875871; E-mail: terezillo@exalumno.unam.mx.
Abstract: Background:Dementia is a persistent, progressive state of cognitive decline against which pharmacological intervention has a modest efficacy, reducing behavioral but not cognitive symptoms. Therefore, different non-pharmacological therapies have been developed; the most scientifically recognized are cognitive therapies that have improved cognitive function and daily life activities. Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent cognitive stimulation therapy (SADEM) on cognitive and behavioral function and daily life activities in patients with mild stage dementia. Methods:Controlled clinical trial with pre- and post-intervention (12 months) and follow-up (24 months after) evaluations. Participants (67) diagnosed with mild dementia were randomly assigned to intervention group (n = 39) or control group (n = 28). The intervention took place throughout one year and consisted of two weekly 90-minute sessions and one more a year after a monthly follow-up. Instruments were used to evaluate outcomes in cognitive, behavioral, and affective domains. Results:The results showed statistically significant differences, with improvement in the cognitive outcomes and the Dementia Index post-intervention (p = 0.01). No progression of the disease was observed at the end of the study. Conclusion:The multicomponent intervention tested had positive effects on cognitive and behavioral functions and daily life activities in people with mild stage dementia, delaying progression for at least two years.
