Hopes for better dementia treatments
Researchers are looking at ways to make more effective drugs and robots are being introduced as part of the mix in caring for people with cognitive decline.
Australian scientists believe they will be able to improve the effectiveness of the drugs used to manage cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and the second leading cause of death in Australia. It is estimated 250 Australians are diagnosed with dementia every day.
In a recent study, CSIRO scientists compared data from 475 people with varying levels of cognitive impairment. They looked at the level of amyloid plaques (a type of protein associated with dementia) in the brain, the atrophying or shrinking of the basal forebrain, and cognitive decline related to memory and attention.
Dr Ying Xia, researcher at CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre and lead author of the study, said early diagnosis was critical to the management of Alzheimer’s symptoms.
“Our results show how the atrophying of the basal forebrain, a key brain region for learning and memory... could indicate the presence of the disease well before symptoms occur,” she said.
“Our research suggests an important link between brain structure, in this case shrinkage, and the way the brain functions during Alzheimer’s disease progression.”
These findings may assist in the ongoing development of drugs to reduce the decline in the brain function seen in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
This could include work with drugs currently undergoing regulatory approval, which clear amyloid plaques from the brain, to amplify their cognitive effects.
Dr Xia said new drugs to clear amyloid plaques hold promise, but it was not yet known whether targeting these plaques addresses the underlying causes of memory and attention decline.
“Currently, drugs available to manage cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s are only effective in up to 30% of cases,” she said.
“We think we can improve on that figure, by increasing our understanding of the role played by the system targeted by the current drug treatment regimes."
In other dementia-related news, robots may soon join other non-medication interventions aimed at alleviating dementia symptoms such as agitation, restlessness, and anxiety.
Pharmacological medications are a common treatment but come with disturbing side effects. Robots could be therapeutic and assist with labour shortages.
Prudence Chan, a consultant occupational therapist and dementia care specialist, works with aged care providers in Singapore, trialling robot prototypes.
She believes robots can provide engaging or calming social interactions, offering an alternative to pharmacological treatments for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
“There is emerging evidence that social robots can genuinely improve the quality of life for people in long-term care,” she said.
A Taiwanese-made device called the Kebbi Air robot helps with music and movement activities, storytelling, and conversational support.
Paro, a robotic seal, effectively calms and comforts individuals in distress.
Other prototypes include DEXIE, a dementia-specific humanoid robot designed for group activities, and the Japanese-made LOVOT, which detects and responds to human emotions.
There is also HUG, a therapeutic comforter with a soothing heartbeat and a programmable music player.
Ms Chan says person-centred care is still very important in treating dementia but with user-led design and the right environment, robots can be integrated into the overall support plan.
However, trials have revealed challenges such as unclear privacy protections and the necessity of reliable Wi-Fi.
Despite these hurdles, the growing number of older adults with dementia and the shortage of care workers highlight the potential for social robots to help maintain care quality.
For dementia information and support, contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Information, resources and support can be found at Dementia Australia.
Related reading: Inside Ageing, CSIRO
