Dement Neurocogn Disord.  2016 Dec;15(4):129-134. 10.12779/dnd.2016.15.4.129.

Analysis of the Expectation of Stem Cell Therapy in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

• Han S
• Choi H
• Kim YS
• Lee KY
• Lee YJ
• Koh SH

• KMID: 2442838
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12779/dnd.2016.15.4.129

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia which typically manifests as loss of memory and cognitive functions. Currently, available treatments for AD provide only symptomatic improvement and the benefit is minimal. Stem cell therapy (SCT) has been considered a promising treatment option for AD. We investigated the caregiver's perception about implementation of SCT in their AD patients, and determined the factors related to SCT.
METHODS
A total of 100 caregivers, who cared for their AD patients, were interviewed at two hospitals. Structured open and closed questions about SCT for AD were asked by trained interviewers using the conventional in-person method. In addition, 60 dementia-related physicians were randomly interviewed via an e-mail questionnaire.
RESULTS
Of the 100 subjects, 61 caregivers replied that they wanted their AD patients to receive SCT. Approximately 50% of the caregivers expected high improvement in cognitive function, behavioral and psychological symptoms, and activities of daily living, and physical improvements among their AD patients. However, physicians had much lower expectations of improvements in the above parameters. Multi-variate analysis revealed that female gender [odds ratio (OR): 3.747, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.425-9.851] and familiarity with stem cells (OR: 3.873, 95% CI: 1.290-11.622) were independently associated with caregivers' desire that their AD patients should undergo SCT. The major source of information on SCT was television (76.7%), and the most reliable source of information on SCT was physicians (83.6%).
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, many caregivers of AD patients fantasized and overestimated the need for SCT in comparison with physicians' expectation. Therefore, it is necessary for physicians to develop strategies for educating caregivers about the appropriate risks and benefits of SCT.

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease; caregiver; stem cell therapy

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Alzheimer Disease
Caregivers
Cognition
Dementia
Electronic Mail
Female
Humans
Memory
Methods
Recognition (Psychology)
Risk Assessment
Stem Cells*
Television

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Expectations concerning stem cell therapy among caregivers and physicians. Almost half of the respondents thought that it would be highly effective. However, physicians had relatively low expectations from the use of stem cell therapies. ADL: activities of daily living, BPSD: behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

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