Parkinson’s Disease (PD) was coined as a term in 1817 by James Parkinson. In the following post, we will talk about how to carry out 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 that are 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 and behavioral disorders, and speech and swallowing alterations. (Santos and Macías, 2010). The recommended pharmacological treatment is with 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 and 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 of 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 carried out 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 suffering 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 class of patients. 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 end, 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 care-dependent state. One of its strengths is the specific attention to the patient’s environment, a vital part of the therapeutic process.
The Master in Neurorehabilitation at ISEP delves deeply into Parkinson’s Disease and its different treatments and interventions. Don’t hesitate to ask for information!