An Exploration of Equine-Assisted Therapy to Improve Balance, Functional Capacity, and Cognition in Older Adults With Alzheimer Disease

Araujo, Thais B.; Martins, Wagner Rodrigues; Freitas, Marco Polo Dias; Camargos, Einstein Francisco; Mota, Jessica; Safons, Marisete Peralta

doi:10.1519/jpt.0000000000000167

Cited by 18 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Despite the accumulation of evidence that supports the benefits of AAI on symptoms of AD, which includes improving cognitive impairment, BPSD, and negative emotions (Kanamori et al, 2001;Bono et al, 2015;Menna et al, 2016;Borges de Araujo et al, 2019;Santaniello et al, 2020), the underlying neurological mechanisms of these benefits have not been identified yet. In particular, we speculated that increased emotional or social interaction through AAI plays an important role in relieving symptoms in patients with AD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurological Mechanisms of Animal-Assisted Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Hypothetical Review

Kim

Nam

Ham

et al. 2021

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative brain disorder with aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau as the pathological hallmarks. AD is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by a progressive decline of cognition. The failure of pharmacological approaches to treat AD has resulted in an increased focus on non-pharmacological interventions that can mitigate cognitive decline and delay disease progression in patients with AD. Animal-assisted intervention (AAI), a non-pharmacological intervention, improves emotional, social, and cognitive dysfunction in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, AAI is reported to mitigate the effects of cognitive impairment in patients with AD. Despite the positive effects of AAI on cognitive dysfunction in patients with AD, there have been no studies on how AAI affects AD-related pathologies. This review postulates potential neurological mechanisms of emotional or social interaction through AAI in countering AD-related pathologies, such as Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, and impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN), and proposes insights for future research by organizing accumulated previous evidence.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurological Mechanisms of Animal-Assisted Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Hypothetical Review

Kim

Nam

Ham

et al. 2021

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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“…Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) is an effective way of improving many measures of physical health 12,13 . However, studies approaching the effects of EAT on the cardiovascular system are scarce.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of equine assisted therapy on the cardiovascular parameters of the elderly

et al. 2021

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Introduction: Physical activity programs in the elderly aim to prevent and/or reduce the functional decline resulting from the senescence process. Several studies provide evidence that Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) is an effective means of improving health. However, studies addressing the effects of EATon the cardiovascular system are scarce. Objective: To evaluate the effect of Equine Assisted Therapyon the cardiovascular responses of participants divided into two groups: normotensive and hypertensive. Methods: Twenty individuals participated, aged between 60 and 79 years, divided into three groups: Normotensive Group (n=14), Hypertensive Group (n=6) and all participants, Total Group (n=20). The Omron® HEM 742 blood pressure monitor was used to measure blood pressure and the Gerathem® portable finger oximeter to measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. Ten visits were made once a week, lasting 30 minutes. Results: Between the first and tenth interventions, there was a reduction in blood pressure and heart rate, with statistical significance of systolic blood pressure for the Hypertensive Group (p=0.0478), the Total Group (p=0.0201) and diastolic pressure for the Total Group (p=0.0421). There was also a statistically significant difference in systolic blood pressure and heart rate during some visits. Blood oxygen saturation increased after the intervention, but without statistical significance. Conclusion: Equine Assisted Therapy can promote a reduction in blood pressure in the elderly, especially hypertensive individuals.

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“…So far the studies carried out on Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) have been mainly focused on the well-being of the patients. In general, these studies show a positive effect of equine assisted therapy in patients with cerebral palsy and other psychomotor disorders, with an improvement in global motor development [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Thus, studies carried out on equine assisted therapy show an improvement in balance, range of movements, postural control, functionality and motor control [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]; as well as an improvement in cognitive, sensory and emotional capacities [ 3 , 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, these studies show a positive effect of equine assisted therapy in patients with cerebral palsy and other psychomotor disorders, with an improvement in global motor development [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Thus, studies carried out on equine assisted therapy show an improvement in balance, range of movements, postural control, functionality and motor control [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]; as well as an improvement in cognitive, sensory and emotional capacities [ 3 , 5 ]. Some authors [ 11 ] determined that the functional improvements obtained in children with infantile cerebral palsy were, essentially, due to the movements the horse transmitted to the rider’s body, these impulses being three-dimensional, rhythmic and equivalent to the physiological pattern of human walking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pilot Study of the Influence of Equine Assisted Therapy on Physiological and Behavioral Parameters Related to Welfare of Horses and Patients

Ayala

Carrillo

Iniesta³

et al. 2021

Animals

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Different welfare indicators were studied in three patients with psychomotor alterations and in two horses throughout 9–10 equine assisted therapy sessions in each patient. In horses, heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, temperature and behavioral signs were studied. In patients, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, sleep quality, psychomotor and emotional parameters were analyzed. Data collection was recorded in the anticipatory phase (15 min before the start of the session), two interaction phases (after 30 min of horse-patient interaction on the ground and on horseback, respectively) and the recovery phase (15 min after the end of the session). During the anticipatory phase, most of physiological parameters of patients and horses and the stress behavioral signs of horses increased, followed by a relaxing phase during the horse-patient interaction on the ground. In horse-patient riding phase the heart and respiratory rates of the horses again increased. These results showed that the horses did not seem to suffer stress attributable to the therapy sessions, but only an increase in their parameters associated with activity and external stimuli. The patients improved their gross and fine motor skills, their cognitive and perceptual-sensitive parameters and it led to an improvement in the life quality of their families.

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An Exploration of Equine-Assisted Therapy to Improve Balance, Functional Capacity, and Cognition in Older Adults With Alzheimer Disease

Abstract: These findings provide evidence of an association between EAT and improved balance and functional capacity in older adults with AD, with no significant impact on cognitive performance.

Cited by 18 publications

References 42 publications

Neurological Mechanisms of Animal-Assisted Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Hypothetical Review

Neurological Mechanisms of Animal-Assisted Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Hypothetical Review

Impact of equine assisted therapy on the cardiovascular parameters of the elderly

Pilot Study of the Influence of Equine Assisted Therapy on Physiological and Behavioral Parameters Related to Welfare of Horses and Patients

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