Utility of Kampo treatment to QOL and life prognosis improvement in dementia care

Abstract

The elderly people with advanced dementia increased recently, are poor clinical prognosis and QOL by inadequate medical treatment. The three patients were hospitalized by worsening heart failure. They refused adequate medical treatment due to positive BPSD (irritability and delirium). Yokukansan calmed irritability and delirium of the three patients, so adequate heart failure treatment could be performed. The other three patients with appetite loss and depression (negative BPSD) were hospitalized by aspiration pneumonia and poor nutrition. Hochuekkitou restored their appetite level, improved the general condition and prevented their pneumonia recurrence. The results showed that advanced patients with dementia can improve QOL and life prognosis by taking the appropriate Kampo treatment.