Estimulando a mente, retardando o Alzheimer: uma abordagem para idosos em instituições de longa permanência

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects millions of people worldwide, being more common among the elderly. This disease represents a significant challenge for healthcare systems due to its constant growth as a direct consequence of increasing population longevity. Currently, the available treatments for AD are limited and primarily focus on the use of drugs aimed at slowing down the disease, but they do not offer a definitive cure and often cause various side effects. One way to mitigate the issue of side effects is through cognitive treatment, which, although not widely studied, is a promising area for delaying AD and improving patients' quality of life. In this context, this work aims to develop a web platform designed to offer cognitive stimulation to elderly residents in Long-Term Care Facilities for the Elderly (LTCFs). The proposed platform, called Cogni in Action, will provide cognitive activities, progress monitoring, and social interaction, aiming to improve mental health and maintain the cognitive abilities of the elderly. The application was evaluated by 14 professionals, including 11 psychologists, 1 caregiver, 1 neuropsychologist, and 1 director of a socialization center for the elderly. The evaluation utilized the System Usability Scale (SUS) and provided space for users' suggestions and comments. The results showed a score of 91.25, which is higher than the average score of 68 (BROOKE, 1996). This indicates that the application has great potential for cognitive stimulation in the elderly.