四週腦力運動計畫對輕度失智症老年人的影響

腦力運動已被報導用於改善失智症患者的健康狀況。 然而，僅少數研究定量化的檢視產生效果的最短時間與頻率。因此，本研究每週進行一次為期4週有關於輕度失智症老年人的認知、憂鬱、生活品質和精神健康的腦力運動計劃，以測試產生效果的最短時間和頻率。本論文針對台灣中部一家地區醫院的82例輕度失智症患者進行隨機試驗。根據個人意願將這些患者分配到介入組 (n = 52; 4週腦力運動)或對照組 (n = 30)。結果發現，在治療組與對照組在4週的時間間隔內觀察到認知功能在統計學呈顯著差異。然而，憂鬱、生活品質和精神健康沒有呈顯著差異。這項隨機試驗顯示，一項為期4週的腦力運動計劃可以顯著改善輕度失智症老年人的認知功能。對於效果的產生，4週可能為最短的時期，而每週一次是最低頻率。

Mental exercise has been reported to improve the well-being of patients with dementia. However, few studies have quantitatively examined the minimal period and frequency for effect occurs. Therefore, this study investigated once a week for 4 weeks mental exercise program on cognition, depression, quality of life and spiritual well-being in older adults with mild dementia to test the minimal period and frequency for effect occurs. A randomized trial was conducted on 82 patients with mild dementia from a regional hospital in central Taiwan. These patients were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 52; 4-week mental exercise) or control group (n = 30) by personal willingness. The results shown that a statistical significant difference in the cognitive function was observed between the treatment group and the control group over 4 weeks’ time span. However, there was no significant difference in depression, quality of life and spiritual well-being. In conclusions, this randomized trial showed that a 4-week mental exercise program can significantly improve the cognitive function of older adults with mild dementia. May be 4-week is the minimal period and once a week is the minimal frequency for effect occurs.