Thamizhmani Leelavathi, Ganapathy Kanaka, Palaniswamy Hari Prakash, Patil Divya Sussana, Purdy Suzanne Carolyn
Department of Speech and Hearing, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
Centre for Evidence-Informed Decision-Making, Department of Health Information, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
Alzheimers Res Ther. 2024 Aug 1;16(1):174. doi: 10.1186/s13195-024-01544-2.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that severely affects cognitive functions and social behaviors, leading to a significant decline in an individual's quality of life. Auditory processing deficits often precede the clinical symptoms of AD, prompting interest in auditory-based interventions as potential treatments. This scoping review aimed to compile the existing evidence on active and passive auditory-based interventions for individuals with AD and its prodromal stages.
This scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's five-step framework to identify the existing evidence on auditory-based interventions for AD. Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Embase) were used to search for studies on auditory stimulation techniques to treat cognitive decline in AD patients. In total, 14 studies were included in the analysis. Seven studies explored active auditory stimulation techniques, such as the Brain Fitness Program (BrainHQ), aiming to improve cognitive function in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The other seven studies focused on passive auditory stimulation, often combined with other sensory stimuli such as light or tactile inputs. Passive stimulation studies have focused mainly on Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS). The intervention frequency and duration varied across studies, ranging from one session lasting 8 h to a year. Both active and passive auditory stimulation showed potential for enhancing cognitive function in individuals with AD.
The literature suggests that auditory stimulation may positively influence cortical wiring and enhance cognitive abilities. Multimodal interventions that combine auditory stimulation with other sensory or behavioural approaches could yield more substantial effects on global cognition. However, the study design, intervention characteristics and outcome measures varied across studies, underscoring the necessity for standardised reporting. Well-designed studies using standard cognitive assessment protocols are recommended.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种进行性神经退行性疾病，严重影响认知功能和社会行为，导致个体生活质量显著下降。听觉处理缺陷通常先于AD的临床症状出现，这引发了人们对基于听觉的干预措施作为潜在治疗方法的兴趣。本综述旨在汇总关于针对AD患者及其前驱阶段个体的主动和被动听觉干预措施的现有证据。
本综述遵循阿克西和奥马利的五步框架，以识别关于AD听觉干预措施的现有证据。使用四个数据库（PubMed、科学网、护理学与健康领域数据库和Embase）搜索有关治疗AD患者认知衰退的听觉刺激技术的研究。分析共纳入14项研究。七项研究探索了主动听觉刺激技术，如大脑健身计划（BrainHQ），旨在改善轻度认知障碍（MCI）个体的认知功能。其他七项研究聚焦于被动听觉刺激，通常与其他感觉刺激如光或触觉输入相结合。被动刺激研究主要集中在利用感觉刺激的伽马同步化（GENUS）。各研究的干预频率和持续时间各不相同，从持续8小时的单次治疗到长达一年不等。主动和被动听觉刺激均显示出增强AD个体认知功能的潜力。
文献表明，听觉刺激可能对皮质布线产生积极影响并增强认知能力。将听觉刺激与其他感觉或行为方法相结合的多模式干预措施可能对整体认知产生更显著的效果。然而，各研究的研究设计、干预特征和结果测量方法各不相同，这凸显了标准化报告的必要性。建议采用标准化认知评估方案进行精心设计的研究。
