Alzheimerlı bireylerde bilişsel iletişim bozukluğuna yönelik mobil uyumlu yazılımın geliştirilmesi

Abstract

The goal of this study was to develop software that can be applied at home for a cognitive communication disorder in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and to examine the effect of this software on the cognitive communication skills of individuals with AD. The study was completed in 4 stages, namely the development of the application, the evaluation of the participants and their training for the application, their use of the application at home, and then the re-evaluation of the participants. Thirty-two individuals who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. These individuals were randomly divided into study and control groups, each consisting of a total of 16 participants, including 6 in the mild, 6 in the intermediate, and 4 in the advanced stages. The developed software was loaded on tablets and given to the participants in the study group. The participants in the control group only received their pharmacological treatment, while those in the study group received both their pharmacological treatment and used the developed application. All participants were evaluated with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Language Assessment Test for Aphasia (ADD) before and after application use. A survey was administered to the caregivers of the participants in the study group after the use of the application. The results revealed a positive change in the cognitive communication skills of the individuals in the study group, even if they were in the advanced stage, according to the ADD and MMSE, as well as the survey. The application led to the greatest improvements in grammar on the ADD and orientation on the MMSE. No rapid cognitive decline was seen in individuals at all stages in the control group. These results prove the effectiveness of the developed software on the cognitive communication skills of individuals with AD. In this study, software was developed in Turkish that can be used in every stage of AD as part of a holistic cognitive communication intervention program offering alternative and supportive communication for individuals with AD, even those in the advanced stage.