Dolls Help Alzheimer's Patients

Dolls Help Alzheimer's Patients

(July 10, 2006) -- LONDON, Jul 10, 2006 -- British researchers say dolls and teddy bears help people with Alzheimer's disease interact and communicate with others.

Reporting on their findings at a British Psychological Society Conference, a team from Newcastle General Hospital said the dolls appeared to alleviate the patients' agitation and distress as well as reduce withdrawal.

In the small-scale study, 14 nursing home residents were given a doll or a teddy bear and assessed over a 12-week period.

Researchers found the patients interacted better with staff and other residents as a result of the props, the BBC reports.

"Clearly, using a doll doesn't reverse dementia, but it did seem to improve quality of life," says Dr. Ian James who worked on the study. "We found people who wouldn't have spoken at all before would speak."

The director of information for Britain's Alzheimer's Society calls the research exciting and innovative, adding that it shows how important it is to engage people in meaningful activities in all stages of dementia.

Last updated: 07/06

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Dolls Help Alzheimer's Patients