TY - JOUR
T1 - Shiatsu as an adjuvant therapy for depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Lanza, Giuseppe
AU - Centonze, Stella Silvia
AU - Destro, Gera
AU - Vella, Veronica
AU - Bellomo, Maria
AU - Pennisi, Manuela
AU - Bella, Rita
AU - Ciavardelli, Domenico
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - Objectives: Among the complementary and alternative medicine, Shiatsu might represent a feasible option for depression in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We evaluated Shiatsu on mood, cognition, and functional independence in patients undergoing physical activity. Design: Single-blind randomized controlled study. Setting: Dedicated Community Center for patients with AD. Interventions: AD patients with depression were randomly assigned to the “active group” (Shiatsu + physical activity) or the “control group” (physical activity alone). Shiatsu was performed by the same therapist once a week for ten months. Main outcome measures: Global cognitive functioning (Mini Mental State Examination – MMSE), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale – GDS), and functional status (Activity of Daily Living – ADL, Instrumental ADL – IADL) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: We found a within-group improvement of MMSE, ADL, and GDS in the active group. However, the analysis of differences before and after the interventions showed a statistically significant decrease of GDS score only in the active group. Conclusions: The combination of Shiatsu and physical activity improved depression in AD patients compared to physical activity alone. The pathomechanism might involve neuroendocrine-mediated effects of Shiatsu on neural circuits implicated in mood and affect regulation.
AB - Objectives: Among the complementary and alternative medicine, Shiatsu might represent a feasible option for depression in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We evaluated Shiatsu on mood, cognition, and functional independence in patients undergoing physical activity. Design: Single-blind randomized controlled study. Setting: Dedicated Community Center for patients with AD. Interventions: AD patients with depression were randomly assigned to the “active group” (Shiatsu + physical activity) or the “control group” (physical activity alone). Shiatsu was performed by the same therapist once a week for ten months. Main outcome measures: Global cognitive functioning (Mini Mental State Examination – MMSE), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale – GDS), and functional status (Activity of Daily Living – ADL, Instrumental ADL – IADL) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: We found a within-group improvement of MMSE, ADL, and GDS in the active group. However, the analysis of differences before and after the interventions showed a statistically significant decrease of GDS score only in the active group. Conclusions: The combination of Shiatsu and physical activity improved depression in AD patients compared to physical activity alone. The pathomechanism might involve neuroendocrine-mediated effects of Shiatsu on neural circuits implicated in mood and affect regulation.
KW - Alternative medicine
KW - Cognitive function
KW - Dementia
KW - Depression
KW - Health services
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046657125&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85046657125&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.04.013
DO - 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.04.013
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85046657125
VL - 38
SP - 74
EP - 78
JO - Complementary Therapies in Medicine
JF - Complementary Therapies in Medicine
SN - 0965-2299
ER -