Abstract
Purpose: This preliminary study aimed to examine the influence of activities of daily living (ADL) decline and basic motion decline on cognitive function in patients with mild-to-moderate dementia in long-term care wards.
Methods: The study included 25 patients with mild-to-moderate dementia in long-term care wards who were followed up for 6 months. ADL and basic motion were evaluated by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Southampton Mobility Assessment (SMA-J), respectively. Patients were divided into the motor FIM maintenance improvement group and the motor FIM decline group based on the changes in motor FIM after 6 months. Similarly, patients were divided into the SMA-J maintenance improvement group and the SMA-J decline group based on the changes in SMA-J after 6 months.
Results: Motor FIM decline group and SMA-J decline group were significantly decline than cognitive function in motor FIM maintenance improvement group and SMA-J maintenance improvement group after during the 6-month follow-up period.
Conclusions: Patients with mild-to-moderate dementia who decline ADL and basic motion may be more likely to decline their cognitive function.
