Combination of psycho- and pharmacotherapy as a modern method of treatment of Alzheimer's disease

PRÓCHNICKA, Magdalena, NOWAK, Dominika, SIWEK, Michał, GIERMASIŃSKI, Adrian, TUSZYŃSKA, Weronika, ZARZYCKI, Adam, SKORUPSKI, Bartosz & KOMISARCZUK, Mateusz. Combination of psycho- and pharmacotherapy as a modern method of treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2023;15(1):50-55. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.15.01.006 https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/42860 https://zenodo.org/record/7746730 The journal has had 40 points in Ministry of Education and Science of Poland parametric evaluation. Annex to the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science of December 21, 2021. No. 32343. Has a Journal's Unique Identifier: 201159. Scientific disciplines assigned: Physical Culture Sciences (Field of Medical sciences and health sciences); Health Sciences (Field of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences). Punkty Ministerialne z 2019 - aktualny rok 40 punktów. Załącznik do komunikatu Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z dnia 21 grudnia 2021 r. Lp. 32343. Posiada Unikatowy Identyfikator Czasopisma: 201159. Przypisane dyscypliny naukowe: Nauki o kulturze fizycznej (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu); Nauki o zdrowiu (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu). © The Authors 2023; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author (s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial license Share alike. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper. Received: 28.02.2023. Revised: 14.03.2023. Accepted: 15.03.2023. Published: 17.03.2023. Combination of psycho- and pharmacotherapy as a modern method of treatment of Alzheimer's disease 1 Magdalena Próchnicka, 1 Dominika Nowak, 1 Michał Siwek, 1 Adrian Giermasiński, 1 Weronika Tuszyńska, 1 Adam Zarzycki, 1 Bartosz Skorupski, 2 Mateusz Komisarczuk 1 Chair and Department of Psychology, Medical University of Lublin 2 Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Lublin Magdalena Próchnicka; maadiii1210@gmail.com; ORCID: 0000-0002-0641-2079 Dominika Nowak; mika1200@onet.pl; ORCID: 0000-0002-0195-1102 Michał Siwek; michal.siwek21371488@gmail.com; ORCID: 0000-0002-0930-9333 Adrian Giermasiński; giermasinski.a@gmail.com; ORCID: 0000-0003-4442-9119 Weronika Tuszyńska; weron.stud28@gmail.com; ORCID: 0000-0002-2395-6748 Mateusz Komisarczuk; mateusz.komisarczuk@gmail.com; ORCID: 0000-0002-0159-8142 Adam Zarzycki; adam.zarzycki0709@gmail.com; ORCID: 0009-0004-9589-1842 Bartosz Skorupski; bartekskorupsky@gmail.com; ORCID: 0009-0003-3314-983X Abstract Introduction: Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease of the brain, caused by the deposition of beta-amyloid and tau protein. It is characterized by progressive memory and behavior disorders which, over time, completely prevent the patient from functioning properly in everyday life, performing work and disrupting social contacts. Communication problems arise and patients forget more and more words. Unfortunately, we are not able to completely stop the progression of this disease, but we can only delay its development. To delay the progression of the disease, pharmacotherapy includes acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. Matherials and methods:This article, based on a PubMed review of available research, examines the impact of rivastigmine, donepezil, memantine and psychotherapyon delaying disease progression. Results: A number of studies have investigated the effect of 6-12 milligrams of rivastigmine, 10 milligrams of donepezil and 20 milligrams of memantine on patients' ability to communicate. The results were checked using the MMSE, ADAS or SIB scales and interviews conducted regularly by clinicians. In addition, patients were subjected to various forms of psychotherapy, including reminiscence therapy and cognitive therapy. All groups experienced significantly less deterioration in their functional stage of disease compared to the placebo groups. Conclusions: The best results in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease can be obtained by combining pharmacological therapy with non-pharmacological effects. Thanks to this form of treatment, the progression of the disease is delayed, and patients retain their communication abilities for longer. Keywords:Alzheimer’s disease; pharmacotherapy; psychotherapy; communication.