Can leisure activities slow dementia progression in nursing home residents? A cluster-randomized controlled trial

To examine the effects of complex cognitive (mahjong) and physical (Tai Chi) activities on dementia severity in nursing home residents with dementia. Cluster-randomized open-label controlled design. 110 residents were randomized by nursing home into three conditions: mahjong, Tai Chi, and simple han...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International psychogeriatrics 2014-04, Vol.26 (4), p.637-643
Main Authors: Cheng, Sheung-Tak, Chow, Pizza K., Song, You-Qiang, Yu, Edwin C. S., Lam, John H. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Alleles
Apolipoproteins E
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical trials
Cluster Analysis
Cognition - physiology
Cognition Disorders - physiopathology
Dementia
Dementia - physiopathology
Dementia - psychology
Dementia - therapy
Disease Progression
Exercise - physiology
Female
Geriatrics
Humans
Leisure
Leisure Activities
Male
Medical sciences
Neuropsychological Tests
Nursing Homes
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Severity of Illness Index
Tai Ji - psychology
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Summary:To examine the effects of complex cognitive (mahjong) and physical (Tai Chi) activities on dementia severity in nursing home residents with dementia. Cluster-randomized open-label controlled design. 110 residents were randomized by nursing home into three conditions: mahjong, Tai Chi, and simple handicrafts (control). Activities were conducted three times a week for 12 weeks. Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) was taken at 0 (baseline), 3 (post-treatment), 6, and 9 months. The outcome measure was CDR sum-of-box, which is a composite measure of both cognitive and functional deterioration in dementia. Intent-to-treat analyses were performed using multilevel regression models. Apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and education were included as covariates. Neither treatments had effects on the cognitive and functional components of the CDR, but mahjong had a significant interaction with time on the CDR sum-of-box total, suggesting a slower rate of global deterioration in the mahjong group as compared with the control group. Mahjong led to a gradual improvement in global functioning and a slightly slower rate of dementia progression over time. The effect was generalized and was not specific to cognition or daily functioning.
ISSN:1041-6102
1741-203X
DOI:10.1017/S1041610213002524