DementiaToday.com - Acupressure can significantly reduce agitated
behavior in older patients with dementia, according to a study
published in the February issue of the UK-based Journal of Clinical
Nursing.

Researchers at the National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan found that
providing 15-minute treatment sessions twice a day for five days a
week yielded considerable benefits, including reductions in verbal and
physical attacks and wandering.

But once the four-week treatment period ended, agitation levels
started to rise again, suggesting that acupressure needs to be
provided on an ongoing basis.

20 patients were studied over six weeks, including one week before the
treatment started and one week after it finished. All lived in
dementia special care units at a long-term care facility.

70 percent of the patients suffered from severe behavioral
disturbances, with a further five percent suffering from extremely
severe impairment. The remaining 25 percent were classed as medium.

... http://www.dementiatoday.com/article-2996204.htm

Tim Silva