Can occupational therapy slow Alzheimer's decline?

Home-based occupational therapy may not slow down the physical decline that comes with Alzheimer's disease, a new clinical trial suggests. The study looked at whether home visits from occupational therapists could put the brakes on Alzheimer's patients' "functional decline."
As the brain disorder progresses, it's not only memory that fades, but also day-to-day functioning. People gradually lose their ability to perform routine tasks -- such as making meals, using household items and bathing and dressing.
The goal of occupational therapy is to help family caregivers manage those difficulties. Sessions might address safe bathing or helping a loved one in and out of a car, for instance.
In the two-year study, the hope was that weaving occupational therapy into Alzheimer's patients' primary care would slow down their functional decline.
But that did not happen, said lead researcher Dr. Christopher Callahan, founding director of Indiana University's Center for Aging Research.
He called the findings "disappointing," but also said that occupational therapy can still be useful in managing Alzheimer's.
"There is still a role for occupational therapy in helping with specific impairments," Callahan said.
And others said the study did not fully measure all of the ways the therapy could benefit patients and family caregivers -- like boosting their quality of life.
Past studies have found that getting "home support" can improve caregivers' well-being, for instance, said Susan Stark, an assistant professor of occupational therapy, neurology and social work at Washington University in St. Louis.
According to Stark, the measurements used in this study may not have been "subtle enough" to capture certain benefits. Plus, she said, the number of sessions may have fallen short: Families typically had 18 home visits over two years.
"It makes me wonder if there was a dose issue," Stark said. In the real world, occupational therapy is not an automatic part of Alzheimer's care. But doctors may prescribe it on a case-by-case basis, Stark said.
        
    HealthDay

Can occupational therapy slow Alzheimers decline?

Home-based occupational therapy may not slow down the physical decline that comes with Alzheimers disease, a new clinical trial suggests. The study looked at whether home visits from occupational therapists could put the brakes on Alzheimers patients functional decline. As the brain disorder progresses, its not only memory that fades, but also day-to-day functioning. People gradually lose their ability to perform routine tasks -- such as making meals, using household items and bathing and dressing. The goal of occupational therapy is to help family caregivers manage those difficulties. Sessions might address safe bathing or helping a loved one in and out of a car, for instance. In the two-year study, the hope was that weaving occupational therapy into Alzheimers patients primary care would slow down their functional decline. But that did not happen, said lead researcher Dr. Christopher Callahan, founding director of Indiana Universitys Center for Aging Research. He called the findings disappointing, but also said that occupational therapy can still be useful in managing Alzheimers. There is still a role for occupational therapy in helping with specific impairments, Callahan said. And others said the study did not fully measure all of the ways the therapy could benefit patients and family caregivers -- like boosting their quality of life. Past studies have found that getting home support can improve caregivers well-being, for instance, said Susan Stark, an assistant professor of occupational therapy, neurology and social work at Washington University in St. Louis. According to Stark, the measurements used in this study may not have been subtle enough to capture certain benefits. Plus, she said, the number of sessions may have fallen short: Families typically had 18 home visits over two years. It makes me wonder if there was a dose issue, Stark said. In the real world, occupational therapy is not an automatic part of Alzheimers care. But doctors may prescribe it on a case-by-case basis, Stark said. HealthDay