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[P3–004]: EFFECTS OF ACUPRESSURE ON AGITATION AND STRESS IN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA
Author(s) -
Kwan Rick Y.C.,
Leung Mason CP.,
Lai Claudia KY.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.06.1817
Subject(s) - acupressure , medicine , dementia , acupuncture , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , nursing homes , psychological intervention , nursing interventions classification , nursing care , nursing , alternative medicine , disease , pathology
postmenopausalwomen.We testedwhether supplementationwith resveratrol (a phytoestrogen) could improve their cerebrovascular function and cognitive performance and overall well-being. Methods: Eighty community dwelling postmenopausal women aged 45-85 years were randomised to take resveratrol (resVida , 2 x 75 mg/ day) or placebo for 14 weeks and changes in the following were assessed: cognitive tests for executive function, semantic, verbal and visuospatial working memory; transcranial Doppler ultrasound recording of percent increase of blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery to both cognitive testing and hypercapnia (breathing carbogen gas for 3 min), which assessed neurovascular coupling capacity and global vasodilatation respectively. Rating scales from selfreports of pain, sleep,menopausal symptoms,mood states and quality of life using Short-Form 36 were averaged to provide a composite score representing overall well-being. Results:Compared to placebo, supplementation with resveratrol elicited 17% increases in cerebrovascular responsiveness (CVR) to both the hypercapnic (P1⁄40.010) and cognitive stimuli (P1⁄40.002). The latter was an overall response to the cognitive test battery. Therewere also increases in CVR to verbal memory (P1⁄40.041) and in overall cognitive performance (p1⁄40.020) that correlated with the enhancement of neurovascular coupling capacity (r1⁄40.327, P1⁄40.048). We also found a significant reduction in perception of pain (P<0.001), attributable to age-related osteoarthritis, and an improvement in overall well-being (P1⁄40.008) following supplementation; both outcomes correlated with the treatment change in CVR to hypercapnia. Neither pain reduction nor boosting of overall well-being significantly correlated with the improvement of cognitive performance. Conclusions:This is the first demonstration that regular consumption of a modest dose of resveratrol can enhance cognition and overall well-being and reduce pain perception in postmenopausal women; all of which were partially attributed to enhancement of cerebrovascular function. Further investigation elucidating the underlyingmechanisms involving circulatory function and age-related chronic pain iswarranted. Our findings offer a promising new approach for reducing the heightened risk of accelerated cognitive decline in this population.