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[Care for patients with Pick's disease--by using their preserved procedural memory]
1Department of Neuroscience, Hyogo Institute for Aging Brain and Cognitive Disorders.
Seishin Shinkeigaku Zasshi = Psychiatria Et Neurologia Japonica
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Behavioral disturbances in Pick's disease may be improved by engaging patients in activities that utilize preserved procedural memory, offering a novel care approach. This study explored using procedural memory to enhance care for individuals with Pick's disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Pick's disease, a form of frontotemporal dementia, often presents with challenging behavioral disturbances.
- These behavioral issues, including social misconduct and stereotypy, are difficult to manage and distinguish it from Alzheimer's disease.
Observation:
- This study examined four inpatients and two outpatients diagnosed with Pick's disease.
- Patients exhibited symptoms such as restlessness, social misconduct, word-finding difficulties, and impaired comprehension.
- Neuroradiological examinations revealed circumscribed bilateral frontotemporal atrophy, more pronounced on the left side.
Findings:
- Engaging patients in activities like playing Othello, knitting, or measuring blood pressure, which tap into procedural memory, led to improved behavior and calmness.
- These activities helped reduce irritability, restlessness, and social misconduct, making patients more adaptive and peaceful.
Implications:
- Preserved procedural memory in Pick's disease patients can be leveraged to improve behavioral management and patient care.
- This approach offers a potential non-pharmacological intervention to enhance the quality of life for individuals with Pick's disease.