Chapel Hill Community is engaged in a research trial to test the effectiveness of two cognitive rehabilitation therapies developed to improve psychological symptoms (apathy and depressed mood), the quality of life, and cognitive and physical functioning in older adults living with mild to moderate dementia. The two cognitive therapies are SAIDO Learning, known as learning therapy, a nonpharmacological treatment developed by Kumon Institute of Education of Japan, and cognitive/social stimulation or enhanced socialization.

“SAIDO Learning was shown to improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in research trials conducted in Japan, as well as in the United States in 2011 at Eliza Jennings organization,” said Debra Durbin, administrator of Chapel Hill Community. “This new research trial will be national in scope. Chapel Hill residents will participate for six months and the entire trial will last for one year, beginning in early 2016.”

To read the full story, see Spirit Winter 2016 edition to be released in February.