Terapia di stimolazione cognitiva in anziani con demenza: il protocollo Spector. Applicazione e valutazione dell'efficacia nel contesto italiano.

Objective: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) has been shown to have significant benefits in enhancing cognitive functioning and improving the quality of life of people with mild to moderate dementia. The present study examines the efficacy of the Italian version of the therapy (CST-IT). Methods: older adults with mild to moderate dementia (n=39) were randomly assigned to two programs: one group partcipated in the CST-IT, consisting of 14 sessions (twice a week for 7 weeks) and the active control group took part in alternative general activities. The outcome measures were cognitive functioning (measured by Mini Mental State Examination-MMSE, Alzheimer’s disease Assessment scale cognitive subscale-Adas- Cog, the backwaed digit span test, and a narrative language test); quality of life (Quality of Life- Alzheimer’s disease Scale); mood (cornell scale for Depression in Dememtia and emotional and social loneliness scale); functional activities in daily living (Disability assessment for Dementia); and behavior (Neuropsychiatric Inventory). Results: After the intervention, only CST-IT group maintained its MMSE score, while the control group displayed deterioration. The CST-IT group also performed better in some of the cognitive measures (Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale and narrative language), mood measures (Cornell scale, social and emotional loneliness scale with a decrease in reported loneliness), and the Quality of life- Alzheimer’s Disease scale. No other treatment effects was observed. After three months results displayed a maintence of the benefits for the treatment group while the active control group showed a significant geenral reduction in all the measures but a significant reduction just appeared in cognitive measures (Adas-Cog and narrative language).