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Complementary medicine use in a dementia clinic population
Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Few dementia patients use complementary medicine for cognitive issues, though many use it for general health. Understanding all patient therapies is crucial for dementia care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Complementary medicine is often used for chronic conditions.
- Limited conventional treatments exist for cognitive decline in dementia.
- Assessing patient therapy use is vital for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of complementary medicine use for cognitive problems in Canadian dementia clinic patients.
- To understand the reasons behind complementary medicine use in this population.
Main Methods:
- A telephone survey was conducted among patients attending a Canadian dementia clinic.
- Inquiries focused on the use of nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, and chelation therapy for cognitive issues and general health.
Main Results:
- Only 9.6% of patients reported using complementary medicine specifically for cognitive problems.
- A significant 29% used complementary medicines for general health promotion.
- Prevalence of use for cognitive issues was lower than anticipated, despite limited conventional options.
Conclusions:
- Complementary medicine use for cognitive problems in dementia patients is not widespread.
- General health promotion is a more common reason for use.
- Clinicians should inquire nonjudgmentally about all therapies used by dementia patients, regardless of the reason.