Parkinson’s Disease (PD) was coined as a term in 1817 by James Parkinson. In the following post, we will discuss how to implement an intervention program for patients suffering from Parkinson’s with early dementia.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Micheli (2006) describes Parkinson’s Disease as a neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous system, which causes damage and degeneration of the neurons in the substantia nigra responsible for producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter necessary for proper body movement.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s
Its symptoms are grouped into two areas: motor and non-motor. The motor symptoms are: bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, postural instability. While the non-motor symptoms are: sleep disorders, cognitive difficulties, neuropsychiatric disorders, behavioral disorders, and speech and swallowing alterations. (Santos y Macías, 2010). The recommended pharmacological treatment is Levodopa, and for treating dementia, Rivastigmine, but undoubtedly the one yielding the most results is the combination of drugs and Cognitive Stimulation (CS) or Cognitive Rehabilitation (CR). (Espert y Villalba, 2014)
Objectives of the Intervention Program
The Intervention Program for Parkinson’s Disease has some of the following therapeutic objectives: Provide sufficient information about the disease, stimulate mental capacities and cognitive performance, improve autonomy in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and promote an active life, foster self-esteem and improve the symptomatology of comorbid disorders, improve the quality of life of the caregiver or companion, or teach relaxation techniques to combat stress. This program is divided into 5 modules: module 0 is based on psychoeducation for PD and will be taught by a psychologist and a neurologist. Module 1 is based on Cognitive Stimulation (CS) and will be taught by a psychologist or a neuropsychologist. Module 2 consists of adapted Activities of Daily Living, and will be taught by psychologists, occupational therapists, or physical therapists. Module 3 is about healthy habits (sleep, nutrition, and physical exercise) and will be taught by psychologists, speech therapists, and physical therapists. Module 4 comprises psychological strategies for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and will be conducted by a psychologist. And the last module is based on family leisure activities.
Psychological evaluation in Parkinson’s patients
For the psychological evaluation of patients, the following psychometric measures are used: the MMSE test and the GDS scale. For possible comorbid disorders that may develop, the BDI-II, the STAI scale, the ECIRyC scale, and the Y-BOCS test are provided. The evaluation of family members or companions is carried out using the CBI caregiver burden scale and the CSCV questionnaire.
This work aims to create an Intervention Program for Parkinson’s Disease based on the physical and emotional needs that may arise in patients. The proposal seeks to reach both those who suffer from the ailment and those who accompany or care for them throughout the degenerative process of the disease. Currently, we lack a specific intervention program for this type of patient. However, its efficacy or clinical validity has not been proven as it has not been applied to any patient with these characteristics. This program does not aim for a curative purpose, as it is a chronic neurological disease, but rather a maintenance of cognitive and physical functions until the disease progresses and leads the patient to a state requiring assistance. One of its strengths is the specific attention to the patient’s environment, a vital part of the therapeutic process.
ISEP’s Master in Neurorehabilitation delves deeply into Parkinson’s Disease and its different treatments and interventions. Don’t hesitate to ask for information!