An Exploration of Equine-Assisted Therapy to Improve Balance, Functional Capacity, and Cognition in Older Adults With Alzheimer Disease.

This study explores the potential health benefits of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) patients; specifically in improving balance, functional capacity and, to some extent, cognition.

Research Objectives and Methods

The research focuses on how equine-assisted therapy, a treatment modality involving interaction with horses, could be beneficial for improving physical and cognitive abilities of older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

• The objective of this research was to study the effects of EAT on balance, functional capacity and cognition in older adults with AD, areas often compromised due to the disease.
• The research included 9 participants of both sexes, with an average age of 79.7 years and a diagnosis of AD.
• The experimental procedure involved 20 sessions of EAT, after which the health and cognitive abilities of the participants were assessed.
• The assessment methods used were force plate for balance, Timed Up and Go test and 30-second chair stand test for functional capacity, and verbal fluency and Mini-Mental State Examination for cognition.

Key Findings

The study revealed significant changes in physical characteristics of older adults with AD post-EAT sessions.

• There was a significant improvement in participants’ balance which was measured by noting the shift in the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior direction (P = .017).
• Functional capacity, as measured by the Timed Up and Go test and the 30-second chair stand test also showed noteworthy enhancements post-therapy (P = .036, and .012 respectively).
• However, while EAT was found to be beneficial in improving physical health of the participants, it did not significantly impact cognitive performance or mental capacity of the patients.

Conclusion

The study concludes by asserting that equine-assisted therapy can be considered a valuable addition to the overall management of physical health and mobility in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease. While both balance and functional capacity showed improvement with EAT, the therapy did not show any significant impact on the cognitive functions of the participants.