The Efficacy of BAPNE Method in Dementia Treatment: A Research Proposal in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

Abstract

In treatment of dementia, further to the use of medicine, methodological approaches have shown positive results as to the improvement of the people's condition, by employing cognitive, relational, behavioral stimulation techniques, or intervention on the surroundings. The aim of this research file is to verify the efficacy of BAPNE method as a cognitive and relational stimulation tool, on elderly patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or with other kind of mild to moderate dementia. Scientific research has already given evidence of positive results of the BAPNE method on people with mild impairment, in particular concerning the executive functions. In this experiment, a sample group of 40 elderly patients will undergo a cycle of 12 sessions; the estimation of the quantitative results will be determined by comparing the data of the experimental sample group (40 elderly patients), with those of the control group (20 elderly patients). The cognitive functions and the executive functions will be measured. Questionnaires and interviews will be used for the qualitative aspects. A decrease in the general cognitive deterioration, and an improvement in the attention capacity, in memory, and in executive functions, is expected after the treatment. Furthermore, a positive effect is foreseeable on the quality of caregivers, giving them the possibility to relate in a new way.