Researchers aimed to examine the value of PrAISED, a specific exercise and functional activity therapy program for patients with early dementia or moderate cognitive impairment, in a study published in The BMJ. Unfortunately, the outcomes were not as anticipated.
The study comprised 365 patients from five different locations in the United Kingdom, all of whom were diagnosed with early dementia or moderate cognitive impairment. These home-based study participants and their caregivers were critical to the study’s success. With dementia patients in mind, the PrAISED program (Promoting Activity, Independence, and Stability in Early Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment) was created.
The program’s foundation was strength training, balance exercises, physical activity, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. PrAISED stood out for the attention with which each participant was treated, making it a forward-thinking program that also satisfied the emotional and physical requirements of dementia patients. Those in the intervention group had access to up to 50 sessions of treatment over the course of a year. Those in the comparison group, on the other hand, received normal medical treatment as well as a fall risk assessment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, processes were updated to ensure everyone’s safety. One year following randomization, the success rate was calculated using the impairment assessment for dementia scale. At 12 months, the key outcomes were self-reported ADLs, physical activity levels, quality of life, fear of falling, balance, functional mobility, frailty, cognition, mood, caregiver strain, and service usage; secondary outcomes were falls between months 4 and 15.
The numbers showed some unexpected findings. The intervention involved 183 people, whereas 182 were assigned to the control group. The males outnumbered the women (58%) and the median age was 80. The intervention group employed the PrAISED technique for an average of 121 minutes each week. The findings, on the other hand, constitute the study’s most important contribution.
There was no noticeable difference between the groups on a measure evaluating the consequences of dementia on daily living. Furthermore, between Months 4 and 15, the Control Group experienced 200 falls, whereas the Intervention Group experienced 79. Despite comprehensive methodology and high participation rates, the rigorous PrAISED program failed to produce the desired results.
Secondary health status outcomes, such as ADLs, sedentary time, and quality of life, did not increase statistically. The outcomes of this study emphasize the difficulties in developing effective dementia therapies. Now that the PrAISED initiative has failed to produce the desired results, the medical community may need to look elsewhere for remedies. Dementia rates are rising all across the world, making effective new medicines more important than ever.
This study serves as a somber reminder that viable therapies for dementia and other complicated illnesses are still a long way off. The outcomes of this study should stimulate more research into the problem, with the ultimate goal of making substantial discoveries that improve the quality of life for persons suffering from dementia.
