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Using Aquariums to Help Manage Alzheimer's Disease
- Animal Assisted Therapy
- Animal Assisted Therapy
In 2001, the Pet Care Trust and Glenn Novotny, President, Central Garden and Pet, co-funded a program to explore the benefits of aquariums in the lives of people afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. The studies were conducted by Dr. Nancy Edwards, School of Nursing, Purdue University with Dr. Alan Beck, School of Veterinary Medicine. Nearly two years of studies were conducted in specialized units in Florida and North Carolina.
"One of the major problems facing people with Alzheimer's disease is that they do not eat enough, often losing enough weight to threaten their health", according to Dr. Nancy Edwards. The objective of the study was to examine the influence of Animal Assisted Therapy on nutritional intake of the patients. The "therapy" animals were aquarium fish, because fish have been shown to have a sedating and calming effect on humans.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) will reach epidemic proportions by the middle of this century, increasing by 350% by 2050 (Medscape 2000 website). "AD affects 1 in 10 people at age 65 and nearly half of all people at age 85 and over (Hingley & Ruggeri, 1998). While we wait for effective treatments, animal assisted therapy seemed to provide some comfort and stability for the seventy patients participating in this study. Aquariums were introduced, and the patient's daily nutritional intake and weight gain was measured. At the same time, the staff working in Alzheimer's units were evaluating episodes of disruptive behavior in patients, and reported their own job satisfaction and personal morale. AD patients are often frustrated, angry and express disruptive behavior. As a result, the nursing staff and aids are under constant stress, resulting in low morale and frequent employment turnover. Could aquarium fish help the lives of patients and staff?
In brief, by comparing with baseline data collected prior to introducing the aquariums, the presence of an aquarium in the dining area significantly increases nutritional intake in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Edwards and Beck note that a 33.8% increase was noted in food intake, thus dietary intake increased without invasive or chemical means. Good nutrition for individuals with dementia delays muscle wasting, promotes functional independence, decreases the number of falls and helps prevent deep ulcers (bed sores). When comparing body weight before the fish arrived, there was an average gain of 3.36 pounds. Over the same period, there was a significant decrease in physical aggression and disruptive personal behaviors. Using a non-chemical means to decrease disruptive behaviors is now considered to be the hallmark of this study. Avoiding restraint or chemicals to calm the environment contributes to the quality of life for the individual expressing negative behavior, as well as all residents of the facility. Overall, the aquariums improved the quality of life for individual's nutritional health and decreased physical aggression. Fish in aquariums may be the best "medicine".
What about the caretakers? Even with the increased workload of weighing food before and after each meal, the staff did not find this a burden or decrease in job satisfaction. This study, using aquarium fish in the lives of persons with dementia, adds to the ever-growing body of evidence that supports the importance of animals in human health at all stages of life. Drs. Edwards and Beck noted that: "It is especially important that the influence of animals is apparent even in the presence of dementia, thereby implying that the influence of animals transcends cognitive thought and is part of the human spirit."
The Pet Care Trust has funded several Animal Assisted Therapy programs to provide documentation that helps convince the medical community and society that companion animals benefit human lives in many significant ways. The Trust has funded a canine study helping autistic children function and learn and clinical animal therapy strategies for mentally ill or abused children. The Trust funded Animal Welfare Guidelines in Eden Alternative nursing homes, published in 2003. Pet Care Trust workshops help teachers keep animals in classrooms, provide seminars for veterinary technicians to support classroom animals and dog bite prevention. These pet industry funded efforts are all part of supporting healthy humans, healthy communities and companion animals.
Pets ownership has played a positive role in recovery following a heart attack (Freidmann, 1982), and it has been shown that "pet owners had lower risks of cardiovascular disease than non-owners" (Anderson & Reid, 1992). Aquariums are used in medical and dental offices because they can reduce blood pressure and calm anxiety. Aquariums are used in cardiac intensive care units at UCLA Medical School where the Pet Care Trust funded a study to track the benefits of pre-surgical dog visitations in cardiac patients. Millions of dollars are spent each year on disease and drug studies, while only a few thousand dollars is spent annually to help quantify the benefits of pet ownership on the physical and mental health of humans. The U.S. Pet Industry's Foundation is proud to support these animal assisted therapy programs to help document health benefits associated with pet ownership, therapy and the human-animal bond.
Do not be put off by the documentation appearing in this article. The medical community needs documentation to embrace animal assisted therapy and learn more. Documentation and education also corrects misinformation presented by some who demean companion animal ownership and the value and joy of the human-animal bond.
Anderson, WP & Reid, CM (1992). Pet Ownership and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Medical Journal Australia, 157, 298-301.
Edwards, N, Beck, AM (2003). Using Aquariums in Managing Alzheimer's Disease: Increasing Resident Nutrition and Improving Staff Morale. Pet Care Trust Final Report.
Freidmann, E, et.al. (1982). Animal companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. California Veterinarian, 8, 45-50.
Hingley, AT & Ruggeri, L (1998) Alzheimer's. FDA Consumer, 32(3), 26-31.
"One of the major problems facing people with Alzheimer's disease is that they do not eat enough, often losing enough weight to threaten their health", according to Dr. Nancy Edwards. The objective of the study was to examine the influence of Animal Assisted Therapy on nutritional intake of the patients. The "therapy" animals were aquarium fish, because fish have been shown to have a sedating and calming effect on humans.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) will reach epidemic proportions by the middle of this century, increasing by 350% by 2050 (Medscape 2000 website). "AD affects 1 in 10 people at age 65 and nearly half of all people at age 85 and over (Hingley & Ruggeri, 1998). While we wait for effective treatments, animal assisted therapy seemed to provide some comfort and stability for the seventy patients participating in this study. Aquariums were introduced, and the patient's daily nutritional intake and weight gain was measured. At the same time, the staff working in Alzheimer's units were evaluating episodes of disruptive behavior in patients, and reported their own job satisfaction and personal morale. AD patients are often frustrated, angry and express disruptive behavior. As a result, the nursing staff and aids are under constant stress, resulting in low morale and frequent employment turnover. Could aquarium fish help the lives of patients and staff?
In brief, by comparing with baseline data collected prior to introducing the aquariums, the presence of an aquarium in the dining area significantly increases nutritional intake in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Edwards and Beck note that a 33.8% increase was noted in food intake, thus dietary intake increased without invasive or chemical means. Good nutrition for individuals with dementia delays muscle wasting, promotes functional independence, decreases the number of falls and helps prevent deep ulcers (bed sores). When comparing body weight before the fish arrived, there was an average gain of 3.36 pounds. Over the same period, there was a significant decrease in physical aggression and disruptive personal behaviors. Using a non-chemical means to decrease disruptive behaviors is now considered to be the hallmark of this study. Avoiding restraint or chemicals to calm the environment contributes to the quality of life for the individual expressing negative behavior, as well as all residents of the facility. Overall, the aquariums improved the quality of life for individual's nutritional health and decreased physical aggression. Fish in aquariums may be the best "medicine".
What about the caretakers? Even with the increased workload of weighing food before and after each meal, the staff did not find this a burden or decrease in job satisfaction. This study, using aquarium fish in the lives of persons with dementia, adds to the ever-growing body of evidence that supports the importance of animals in human health at all stages of life. Drs. Edwards and Beck noted that: "It is especially important that the influence of animals is apparent even in the presence of dementia, thereby implying that the influence of animals transcends cognitive thought and is part of the human spirit."
The Pet Care Trust has funded several Animal Assisted Therapy programs to provide documentation that helps convince the medical community and society that companion animals benefit human lives in many significant ways. The Trust has funded a canine study helping autistic children function and learn and clinical animal therapy strategies for mentally ill or abused children. The Trust funded Animal Welfare Guidelines in Eden Alternative nursing homes, published in 2003. Pet Care Trust workshops help teachers keep animals in classrooms, provide seminars for veterinary technicians to support classroom animals and dog bite prevention. These pet industry funded efforts are all part of supporting healthy humans, healthy communities and companion animals.
Pets ownership has played a positive role in recovery following a heart attack (Freidmann, 1982), and it has been shown that "pet owners had lower risks of cardiovascular disease than non-owners" (Anderson & Reid, 1992). Aquariums are used in medical and dental offices because they can reduce blood pressure and calm anxiety. Aquariums are used in cardiac intensive care units at UCLA Medical School where the Pet Care Trust funded a study to track the benefits of pre-surgical dog visitations in cardiac patients. Millions of dollars are spent each year on disease and drug studies, while only a few thousand dollars is spent annually to help quantify the benefits of pet ownership on the physical and mental health of humans. The U.S. Pet Industry's Foundation is proud to support these animal assisted therapy programs to help document health benefits associated with pet ownership, therapy and the human-animal bond.
Do not be put off by the documentation appearing in this article. The medical community needs documentation to embrace animal assisted therapy and learn more. Documentation and education also corrects misinformation presented by some who demean companion animal ownership and the value and joy of the human-animal bond.
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John L. Pitts, DVM, Program Coordinator, Pet Care Trust, the US Pet Industry's companion animal welfare and education Foundation. October 2, 2003. Your Education Foundation Needs Your Help |
Anderson, WP & Reid, CM (1992). Pet Ownership and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Medical Journal Australia, 157, 298-301.
Edwards, N, Beck, AM (2003). Using Aquariums in Managing Alzheimer's Disease: Increasing Resident Nutrition and Improving Staff Morale. Pet Care Trust Final Report.
Freidmann, E, et.al. (1982). Animal companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. California Veterinarian, 8, 45-50.
Hingley, AT & Ruggeri, L (1998) Alzheimer's. FDA Consumer, 32(3), 26-31.
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