Effects of Hand Care Therapy on Reducing the Conversion Rate from MCI to Dementia and Role of COVID-19 as Non-Pharmacotherapy

Abstract

Dementia needs to be addressed by various researchers to reduce the risk of morbidity and progression. And dementia was regarded as one of lifestyle-related diseases, and it is estimated that about 10% of MCI (Mild cognitive impairment) progresses to dementia in one year. In this study, we examined whether hand care therapy (HCT) as one of passive horticultural therapy was effective in preventing dementia/MCI. In result, the use of HCT was shown to be effective in preventing dementia and MCI illness and slowing progression. The elderly people tended to decrease iADL year by year, but the HCT group did not. In addition, the senile depressive tendency, which is said to be increasing year by year, tended to be reduced in the HCT-treated group. This is thought to be due to not only the healing effect of the massage by HCT treatment and the effect of transmitting the pleasant stimulus from the tactile sense to the frontal lobe, but also the true communication effect created by sitting gently and touching the hand. This HCT technique can improve the euphoria of the treated side and the treated side. Therefore, it can be expected that the autoimmunity of all people involved can be improved, and it can be judged to be promising as a preventive technique and non-pharmacotherapy for lifestyle-related diseases and various infectious diseases like COVID-19.

Effectiveness of Hand Care Therapy and Garden Walks That Are Conscious of the Stimulation of the Five Senses for Recovery of Cognitive and Mental and Physical Dysfunction Caused by COVID-19

“…From the perspective of preventing the conversion from MCI to dementia, the effectiveness of HCT was applied to cognitive impairment, iADL, and senile depression during the period from I (BL: August 2019) to VII (18M: February 2020). In the results, the use of HCT was shown to be effective in preventing dementia and MCI illness and slowing progression [16].…”

Long-Term Active and Passive Horticultural Therapy Intervention for Elderly Patients with Moderate Dementia and AI Analysis of Medical Records and Care Documents

“…Changes appeared in muscle tension, skin conductance and pulse that correlates with reduced blood pressure [4] [5]. Various studies of horticultural therapy programs have demonstrated the positive effects on dementia protection, schizophrenic behavior and those suffering from depression [6] [7].…”

Influences of Horticultural Therapy and Functional Recovery Training at a Day-Care Center for the Elderly and Text Mining of Care Records by AI

“…These horticultural therapy activities were passive such as garden appreciation, "hand care treatment and brain rejuvenation aroma", which were less likely to be rejected and more share pleasant feelings [9]. In addition, active functional recovery training and rehabilitation were introduced, and physiotherapists or occupational therapists proposed various trainings suitable for individual subjects if desired.…”