Interference between cognitive and motor recovery in elderly dementia patients through a holistic tele-rehabilitation platform

Abstract

To improve the quality of life of elderly subjects affected by dementia, the rehabilitation environment has to translate from the hospital to the patient’s home. A holistic tele-rehabilitation system can be successfully used to support and enhance a home-based rehabilitation process. The ABILITY platform foresees mobile and wireless technologies, integrated into a unique environment in which patients can become primary actors in their own care. In this work, we present a Pilot Study (N = 10) about the motor recovery, and in particular the relationship between the motor recovery and the cognitive recovery, in dementia patients. A group of control patients followed the usual care treatment and another group used the ABILITY platform at home. The results of the study suggested that the use of the tele-rehabilitation platform could improve both the motor skills, the cognitive skill and the interaction between them.