How Massage Can Help in Dementia Care

When people hear the term dementia, they think it is one specific disease. However, dementia is a general term that refers to the loss of cognitive functioning and reasoning to such an extent that it interferes with conducting daily activities.

 

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, there are over 10 million new cases of dementia each year worldwide, which suggests one new case every 3.2 seconds. There were over fifty-five million people worldwide living with dementia in 2020. This number is expected to double every 20 years, reaching seventy-eight million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050. Dementia affects the aged; although there is growing evidence of cases in people before they reach sixty-five. [1]

 

What causes dementia

 

Dementia results when once healthy neurons or nerve cells in the brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells and die. Aging naturally results in the loss of some neurons, but people who have dementia experience far greater loss.[2]  Dementia ranges in severity. In its mildest stage, it is just beginning to affect someone’s daily functioning. At its most severe state, a person becomes dependent on others to help with daily activities.

 

There are several types of dementia:[3]

 

·         Alzheimer’s disease: It is the most common dementia caused by changes in the brain, including abnormal buildups of proteins, known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

 

·         Frontotemporal dementia: This type of dementia is rare and occurs in people under 60. The condition is associated with abnormal amounts or forms of the tau and TDP-43 proteins.

 

·         Lewy body dementia: A form of dementia caused by abnormal deposits of proteins called Lewy bodies (protein alpha-synuclein).

 

·         Vascular dementia: Caused by conditions that damage blood vessels in the brain or interrupt blood and oxygen flow to the brain.

 

·         Mixed dementia: A combination of two or more types of dementia.

 

Signs and symptoms of dementia

 

Dementia symptoms will vary depending on the cause. Some are cognitive changes; others are psychological.

 

Cognitive changes include:

 

• Memory loss.
• Problems communicating or finding words, understanding, expressing thoughts, reading, and writing.
• Trouble with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving.
• Problems with reasoning or problem-solving.
• Repeating questions.
• Trouble performing complex tasks. Taking more time.
• Trouble with planning and organizing.
• Losing interest in normal daily activities and events.
• Poor coordination and control of movements.
• Confusion and disorientation.

 

Psychological changes: [4]

 

• Personality changes.
• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Agitation.
• Behavior that doesn't fit the situation.
• Being suspicious, known as paranoia.
• Seeing things that aren't there, known as hallucinations.

 

What can massage for dementia offer?

 

Massage therapy cannot cure or directly treat dementia, but it can play a role in dementia care, helping to manage some of the symptoms and signs associated with the disease. People with dementia commonly experience agitation, aggression, stress, and anxiety. When given a massage for dementia, they can relax and feel more at-ease. Massage with its gentle soft tissue manipulation can help to release the physical tension that builds up from constant uneasiness.[5]

 

 

What research says about massage for dementia patients

 

In a literature review conducted in 2020,[6] scientists looked at the role of massage therapy, either independently or in conjunction with other nonpharmacological interventions, such as aromatherapy or calming music, in easing aggression and related behavioral disorders in dementia patients.

 

The study found the use of massage, either alone or in combination with aromatherapy or calming music, can significantly decrease agitation, aggression, stress, and anxiety in patients with dementia. Moreover, massage therapy can also be beneficial for nursing personnel involved in taking care of patients with dementia. The combination of massages with aromatherapy seems to impart the most meaningful results in patients with dementia.

 

In another research study about massage for dementia patients conducted in 2022, 60 patients with several types and stages of dementia with irritability participated in a cross-over randomized controlled trial. The study included three non-pharmacological interventions: validation therapy/psycho educational program, aromatherapy/massage, and music therapy. The trial found that aromatherapy/massage was the most effective non-pharmacological intervention, followed by validation therapy and music therapy.[7]

 

Research on massage for dementia also looked at the effectiveness of family caregiver-administered massages to help manage dementia symptoms. A 2022 research study involved 12 pairs of participants-patients with dementia and their family caregivers. Before the study began, caregivers received a four-hour full body massage training course. During the study period, the caregivers gave a 30-min massage to the patients once a week for 10 weeks. The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, and Zarit Burden Scale were administered pre- and post-intervention.

 

The study found total scores on all questionnaires significantly decreased after the intervention. In addition, two subscale scores of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia—behavioral disturbance and physical signs—reduced significantly.[8]

 

Guidelines for massage for dementia patients

 

While massage shows benefits of massage for dementia patients to help ease symptoms, massage therapists should make sure they do not increase patient anxiety and agitation by taking the following step, offers massage therapy professionals interviewed by American Massage Therapy Association[9]

 

·         Find out about the client’s preferences for music, aroma, and lighting.

·         Have a caregiver with them or nearby.

·         Avoid the prone position, which can become disorienting, and the face cradle can feel suffocating.

·         Ask permission at each stage of the massage.

·         Assess the client’s level of agitation before and during the massage. Discontinue the session if the treatment is exacerbating symptoms.

 

While more research is needed to understand the benefits of massage therapy for dementia, studies conducted point to positive results to ease comfort in those suffering from the disease. While massage is not a cure for dementia, it can help ease anxiety and ag