The ancient practice of acupressure may be able to calm the aggressive behavior that often results from dementia, a small study suggests.
One of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia is agitation. It's expressed in any number of ways; some people with dementia yell at or physically attack other people, while others habitually undress themselves or wander.
Agitation not only puts dementia patients at risk of injury, but also makes their overall care even more challenging.
In the new pilot study, Taiwanese researchers looked at whether acupressure could offer a relatively simple way to address the problem.
Long used in traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure is based on the same principles as acupuncture, but employs touch rather than needles. According to traditional theory, stimulating particular points on the skin helps balance the flow of energy, or "chi," throughout the body.
With acupressure, practitioners use their fingers to stimulate these "acupoints," making it a form of massage, explained study co-author Dr. Li-Chan Lin of National Yang Ming University in Taipei.
