University Nursing Assignment: Dementia and Alternative Therapies

This nursing assignment report investigates the use of alternative medications and therapies for dementia patients, focusing on their potential to improve patient conditions compared to conventional treatments. The report begins with a PICO question that examines whether alternative medications can enhance patient outcomes within a specific timeframe. It provides a comprehensive background on dementia, its global impact, and the limitations of traditional treatments. The significance of alternative therapies, including physical exercises, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies, is highlighted, supported by references to various studies and research papers. The report explores how these alternative approaches can address symptoms like depression and stress while improving cognitive and behavioral aspects. It concludes by emphasizing the potential of alternative medications and therapies to enhance patient well-being and quality of life. The report includes a detailed search strategy and a robust reference list, offering valuable insights into the topic.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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PICO question
Does application of alternative medication in dementia affected people helps to
improve patient condition that the conventional treatment within a specific time period?
Population Intervention comparison Outcome
Patients affected
with dementia
Application of
alternative
medication or
therapies
Conventional
treatment process
Improved memory
and health outcomes
Search strategy conducted in CINAHL

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Search strategy conducted in Medline
Background
Dementia is a health condition, in which, as per the World Health Organisation
(2019), the affected individual starts facing deterioration in their memory, thought process
and their behavior. There are more than 50 million people around the world that are affected
with dementia and as per governmental reports, more than 10 million cases are registered
every year. Older generation is mostly affected with dementia condition and it is one of the
critical condition responsible for old age disabilities, falls and incidents around the world (Liu
et al. 2017). Therefore, this disease not only affects the physical and mental condition, but
also affects the psychological wellbeing of affected individuals (Camic, Baker and Tischler
2015).
There are several medical and therapeutic treatments are available for dementia that is
effective for patients suffering from dementia and helps them to restore their quality of life
and their cognitive health. These medications does not directly reduces the dementia

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syndrome but helps to reduce the critical conditions such as depression and irritability or
sleeping concerns. Hence, as per Liu et al. (2017), these medication or treatment option does
not directly helps in the reduction in the dementia condition. In addition, the therapeutic
process related to cognitive health and cognitive behavioral therapy and the most crucial
reminiscence therapy which helps in the gradual increase in the cognitive strength and
reduction in the cognition decrease (Camic, Baker and Tischler 2015). These traditional
therapies and medicines helps in growth of the patient wellbeing.
Significance
As per Tang, Tang and Leonard (2017), there are several evidences as per which,
application of alternative therapies and medication could help in the patient condition
improvement. As per Lee, Kim and Kim (2018), multiple activities such as physical
exercises, diet and nutrition regime, application of brain exercises, application of herbal and
dietary supplements could be applied in the dementia affected patients. Further, other
complimentary therapies such as acupuncture and alternative medication therapies could also
be implemented in patients with dementia so that their cognitive and behavioral aspects could
be improved (Tang, Tang and Leonard 2017).
The significance of these activities and therapies could be understood from their brief
role in patients affected with dementia’s health regime. As per Xiao-Cong et al. (2018)
majority of the patients that are affected with dementia are found to be affected with
depression and stress in which calming exercise such as walking, running or little body
weight exercises could help in prevention of adverse dementia symptoms (Tang, Tang and
Leonard 2017). Further, with application of herbal and dietary supplementation, the body
could be provided with herbal extracts that is proven to improve starting from human body
blood circulation to mental strength. Hence, as per May et al. (2015), application of

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alternative medications and therapies could be an effective mean to improve the patient
condition than the sole application of traditional medication.
References
Camic, P.M., Baker, E.L. and Tischler, V., 2015. Theorizing how art gallery interventions
impact people with dementia and their caregivers. The Gerontologist, 56(6), pp.1033-1041.
Lee, D.S., Kim, D.S. and Kim, S.H., ViroMed Co Ltd, 2018. Herbal compositions for
treating neurological diseases and improving memory impairment. U.S. Patent Application
10/058,583.
Liu, C.T., Wu, B.Y., Hung, Y.C., Wang, L.Y., Lee, Y.Y., Lin, T.K., Lin, P.Y., Chen, W.F.,
Chiang, J.H., Hsu, S.F. and Hu, W.L., 2017. Decreased risk of dementia in migraine patients
with traditional Chinese medicine use: a population-based cohort study. Oncotarget, 8(45),
p.79680.
May, B.H., Zhang, A.L., Robinson, S.R. and Xue, C.C., 2015. Chinese herbs for cognitive
decline: historical and contemporary applications. In Diet and Nutrition in Dementia and
Cognitive Decline (pp. 805-818). Academic Press.
Tang, S.W., Tang, W.H. and Leonard, B.E., 2017. Herbal medicine for psychiatric disorders:
Psychopharmacology and neuroscience-based nomenclature. The World Journal of
Biological Psychiatry, pp.1-19.
World Health Organisation (2019). Dementia. [online] Who.int. Available at:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].
Xiao-Cong, P.A.N.G., De, K.A.N.G., Jian-Song, F.A.N.G., Ying, Z.H.A.O., Lv-Jie, X.U.,
Wen-Wen, L.I.A.N., Ai-Lin, L.I.U. and Guan-Hua, D.U., 2018. Network pharmacology-

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based analysis of Chinese herbal Naodesheng formula for application to Alzheimer's
disease. Chinese journal of natural medicines, 16(1), pp.53-62.