ALTERNATIVE THERAPY FOR ALZHEIMER’S WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY JOHN SCHMID ON APRIL 28, 2012
Alternative Therapy for Alzheimer’s
Dementia Therapy Activities | Dementia Therapy Without Drugs
Alternative Therapy for Alzheimer’s—Aromatherapy
The Aromatherapy Tangle is a unique way to administer aromatherapy. It adds a tactile stimulation and is a fidget toy as well. Available in the store.
Several studies have found compelling evidence that certain aromatherapy oils have a positive effect on the mood, behavior, and even on the cognitive functioning of people with dementia. Aromatherapy is the use of volatile plant oils to improve psychological and physical health and prevent disease, and to affect mood. These “essential oils” are distilled from different parts of plants and contain the essence of the plant.
Essential plant oils are safe if a few, simple precautions are followed. If you have a question or a concern about the proper or safe use of any aromatherapy product, please contact us. Or ask a professional aromatherapist. Read more about aromatherapy as an alternative therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.
Click the van Gogh portrait above to shop art supplies.
Alternative Therapy for Alzheimer’s—Art Therapy
Art therapy is quickly becoming one of the most thoroughly documented alternative therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Art therapists and activity professionals have long known that for people with Alzheimer’s, creating art as well as enjoying art opens up avenues of cognition and communication that were often thought to be lost forever.
More and more, in cities all over the world, art museums are creating tours for people with dementia and their caregivers. For anyone for whom attending such a tour is impractical, there are many ways that art can be brought to them. Painting and other arts and crafts are becoming a staple of caregivers, both professional and family. True art therapy requires a trained therapist, but with just a little instruction, you can art creation can be a very meaningful activity for the person or people in your care.
Read more about the benefits of art therapy…
Alternative Therapy for Alzheimer’s—Doll Therapy
“I gave my dear Mother one of the dolls from “doll therapy” just a few months before we had to put her into full time care. The doll is the love of her life. It is the only thing she feels safe and comfort from and with. It is the only thing that she is able to talk to freely and love and nurture.
“She believes she is the doll’s grandmother and that the doll is real. She carries it everywhere with her and it’s beautiful to see that even though she is in the penultimate stage of vascular dementia, she is still able to display the loving and nurturing part of her nature that we all had the joy of receiving over her many years. Thank you.” ~ Kate (Sydney, NSW, Australia)
The above quotation is a note of thanks from a friend in Australia who found that her mother (not pictured) was greatly comforted by the simple act of caring for a doll. Most of the evidence supporting doll therapy as an effective alternative therapy for Alzheimer’s disease is anecdotal, like Kate’s testimony, but there is quite a lot of it. As is often the case, so much anecdotal evidence usually gets the pro’s interested. A growing body of medical and scientific work supports what so many social workers, nurses, and caregivers have known for a long time; doll therapy works as a way to treat many of the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
Read more about the magic of doll therapy….
You will find a large selection of therapy dolls in our store. We have one line that is very realistic. Our other line is so realistic you will have to look two or even three times, then touch the face to convince yourself that what you are holding is not a live baby.
These dolls are each custom made, and because of this are quite expensive, but I am constantly surprised by how many we sell. And I am not kidding about the realism. The person who makes these for us, while visiting a care community, gently placed one of the dolls in the arms of the nurse she was talking with. Several minutes later, after talking and swaying, she touched the baby’s face and almost shrieked, “It’s a doll!”
We don’t have vinyl, but we do have music. Click the pic to see.
Alternative Therapy for Alzheimer’s—Music Therapy
Music is therapy for everyone, not just people who have Alzheimer’s disease. Like art therapy, music therapy requires a trained practitioner to truly be music therapy. On the other hand, simply listening to music has a way of lifting our spirits, improving or mood, and making our day a little brighter; or a lot. And music can be used in so many ways. Familiar music is a great tool for reminiscence therapy. Background music creates an atmosphere that can be relaxing, energetic, meditative, and even stimulate creative thought. Music is a perfect accompaniment to exercise; and don’t even get me started on the benefits of dance.
Read more about the miracle of music therapy…
Alternative Therapy for Alzheimer’s—Reminiscence Therapy
According to author Brian Falkner, “We are our memories.” Click the picture to explore reminiscing aids.
Many people with progressive memory disorders are much more comfortable talking about memories of long ago than about more recent happenings and experiences. This is especially true if the person has Alzheimer’s disease. Because the area of the brain that stores memories long term is affected later in the disease’s progression than the area that forms new memories, the affected person will remember more about her life when she was 40 years younger than she knows about what has happened earlier in the week or at breakfast this morning.
Old pictures provide a perfect vehicle for reminiscing. Bring out those old photo albums. Find pictures that are characteristic of the times and places she is likely to remember most fondly. Add some music that she listened to when she was young. Anything that provides fond memories can be a part of reminiscence therapy.
More about reminiscence therapy…
Alternative Therapy for Alzheimer’s—Light Therapy
We talk about two very different forms of light therapy; bright light therapy and flashing light therapy.
- Bright Light Therapy involves exposure to sunlight or an artificial full spectrum light source of at least 10,000 LUX. LUX is the unit of illuminance. If you are interested you can read all about it in Wikipedia. Bright Light Therapy is particularly good for addressing sleep disorders. It also relieves other symptoms associated with dementia.
- Flashing Light Therapy is one of our favorite areas of Alzheimer’s research, but an area that needs more study. Preliminary work is promising in that this flashing light doesn’t just reduce symptoms but shows promise of actually stopping and even reversing the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alternative Therapy for Alzheimer’s—Pet Therapy
There is not a lot published about the benefits therapy animals have for people with dementia including Alzheimer’s. We just know it works. It is probably not as effective as, for example, art therapy or doll therapy, at least not across the board. On the other hand, some people may get more out of pet therapy than some of the other powerful alternative therapies. Many care communities we visit “employ” a therapy animal, just to hang around and spread its healing energy.
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Hi John ,
I read your article’s and found them all very interesting particularly on herbs etc.
I am in my early eighties and take a product called “Focus Plus” made by Incisor tech.
It is a natural product made from Plants and most important – it has no side effects .
A friend recommended it to me as I used to get depressed and very forgetful.
Since taking focus PLUS My moods changed brighter happier , a feeling of wellbeing and I feel more alert and can concentrate for longer periods of time.
I would recommend focus Plus to anyone and really can’t fault it.
I don’t even seem to stumble with my memory anymore.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell you my story.
Veronica Ryan
Hi Veronica – I cannot endorse any products, beyond allowing mention of particular commercial products in comments like yours. I know little about Focus Plus, but I am glad that you are getting such good results from it. I would love to hear from others who are also seeing improvement, and even anyone who is not. As you know, I am convinced that diet can have a big affect on how we respond to brain disorders including dementia, so keep it up.
I’m missing accupuncture and craniosacral therapy on the list. For both has been done research with good results. I have done an interview with a therapist who treats people with dementia in a hospice. She can work really well with them. You can read more about this here: https://energyisflowing.nl/eng/2016/11/02/craniosacral-therapy-and-alzheimers/
He John,
Wondering if your overall exposure to dimentia remedies has involved cannabinoid, specifically CBD, as a means of managing or minimizing typical Alzheimer’s symptoms?
My wife is in about her 10th year of AD and is pretty much 100% dependent on me for all aspects of basic human behaviour.
I recently secured a prescription for “yellow label” cannabis oil but can’t say there are noticeable changes.
It’s also true I have no idea how much/frequent I should administering these drops.
Anyway John, any direction you could provide would be very appreciated.
The very best,
Brian
Published earlier this month in the journal Nature, investigators at the Salk Institute report that the psychoactive compound in marijuana, may reduce the buildup of and even promote the removal of the Amyloid beta (Aβ) protein that is thought to be partially responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. The compound,tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), also reduced inflammation in the brain, another suspected contributor to the disease.
More to your point, a study published in 2014 in the journal Psychopharmacology reported that Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound in marijuana, may reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s. A team led by Dr. Tim Karl found that mice bred to mimic Alzheimer’s disease were returned to the cognitive level of healthy mice by the administratioin of CBD. Granted, this study involved mice, but many medical breakthroughs begin with animal studies.
Both of these studies found that compounds in marijuana reduce inflammation in the brain and nerves. An inflammatory response is likely responsible in part for Alzheimer’s.
There are quite a few other studies that attribute cognitive and memory benefits to different compounds found in marijuana. We will likely see many more in the near future as the health and medical benefits of the herb become better known.
I cannot advise you as to the prescribed or recommended dosage, I am sorry. As you can imagine, any treatment using cannabinoids is new and still controversial. I suggest you begin with the source of the oil. They may have a recommendation, or be able to steer you in the direction to find one.
Since it seems the antinflammatory effets of the compounds is likey part of the benefit, you might want to read https://best-alzheimers-products.com/is-alzheimers-an-autoimmune-disease.html.
The use of marijuana is a subject I have been interested in for a while. I will be posting a more comprehensive article in the (hopefully) near future, so stay tuned…
Best to you and to you wife.
John
Very touching and educational Utube video on The Power of Art Therapy. It was comforting to see a son discover that his father who had Alzheimer’s disease had hidden artistic skills, and the art helped him to communicate what he was feeling, when words could no longer convey his thoughts.
Thank you, Jeanne. His is a very insightful and instructive story.