Drug-free MAKS therapy slows disease progression of dementia

Dementia: Drug-free MAKS therapy slows disease progression

In Germany, around 1.6 million people suffer from dementia, the majority of them have Alzheimer's. The disease is not curable, but can be stopped. Among other things by the so-called MAKS therapy.

More and more people with dementia

According to the German Alzheimer's Association (DAlzG), about 1.6 million people in Germany today live with dementia. About 60 percent of them suffer from dementia of the type Alzheimer. But the number keeps rising. The disease is still incurable despite decades of research, but it can be stopped. Among other things, using the so-called MAKS therapy, a holistic treatment approach without drugs.

More and more Germans are suffering from dementia. The disease is incurable, but can be stopped. For example, with the drug-free MAKS therapy. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

Health Minister promotes drug-free MAKS therapy

Bavaria's Health and Nursing Minister Melanie Huml promotes the use of drug-free MAKS therapy in people with dementia at nursing home operators.

"The MAKS therapy makes it possible to delay the loss of everyday practical and cognitive abilities. Thus, the living conditions for those affected and their relatives can be maintained at a similar level for a longer period of time, "the Minister said in a statement.

The efficacy of the MAKS therapy in the past year resulted in a study in 32 day care centers, half of them in Bavaria, with more than 360 dementia patients.

The results of the study were available in mid-2017 and were published last December in the "Deutsches Ärzteblatt".

Concept for the holistic resource promotion

"The MAKS therapy has a noticeably beneficial effect on the independence in everyday life and on the quality of life of people with dementia," said Huml.

"This represents a major step forward in dementia therapy. Maintaining day-to-day competencies also provides valuable relief for nursing home operators."

The MAKS therapy developed by the Center for Medical Care Research of the Psychiatric University Clinic Erlangen is a concept for the holistic resource promotion that is specially tailored to the needs of people with dementia.

The therapy concept consists of targeted exercises on motor skills (eg movement games), everyday practical processes (including craft and household activities) and cognition (memory and other functions of the brain are tested) in a social-communicative environment (in a group).

Progression of the disease was halted

The center for medical care research under the direction of Professor Dr. med. Elmar Gräßel and dr. Katharina Luttenberger in the period from April 2015 to March 2017, which effects the MAKS therapy has in the day care.

Bavaria's health minister explained: "The study has shown that the progression of the disease can be stopped for some time and the quality of life of those affected improved by the drug-free MAKS therapy."

According to the minister, "in people with mild cognitive disorders or dementia as a result of the therapy, the daily practical and cognitive abilities improved significantly compared to the usual care. This also applies to conspicuous behaviors as well as anxiety and depression in these patients, who were far less pronounced. "(Ad)