Benefit of a healing garden on sleep in neurocognitive diseases / Bénéfice d'un jardin thérapeutique sur le sommeil dans les maladies neurocognitives

Progressive neurocognitive pathologies frequently alter the architecture of sleep with: advanced sleep phase or phase delay, sleep fragmentation, decrease of slow-wave sleep, REM sleep, nocturnal agitation and wandering or even complete reversal of the nycthemeral rhythm. This has a clear impact on the health and quality of life of the patient. Hospitalization increases the risk of sleep disturbances due to inactivity, some sensory deprivation and daytime hypovigilance. The therapeutic gardens offer in an attractive, sensorially stimulating setting and exposed to natural light, the possibility of an adapted physical exercise. Their impact on the quality and quantity of sleep in cognitive-behavioral units has been evaluated in an exploratory manner. The hypnogram of two groups of 30 patients was compared depending on whether they used the garden (weather permitting, in summer) or not (in winter). The results show that the patients who use the garden are significantly more active during the day, have a longer nighttime sleep duration and are less restless at night. In addition, patients who use and walk longer in the garden benefit from an increase in their sleep time. In view of their multiple interests, therapeutic gardens, if they meet validated design criteria, should be integrated more widely into establishments welcoming people with neurocognitive diseases.

Les pathologies neurocognitives évolutives altèrent fréquemment l'architecture du sommeil avec : avance ou retard de phase, fragmentation du sommeil, diminution du sommeil lent profond et du sommeil paradoxal, agitation et déambulation nocturnes voire inversion complète du rythme nycthéméral. Cela retentit nettement sur la santé et la qualité de vie du patient. L'hospitalisation accroît le risque de perturbations du sommeil du fait de l'inactivité, d'une certaine privation sensorielle et de l'hypovigilance diurne. Les jardins thérapeutiques offrent, dans un cadre attractif, stimulant sensoriellement et exposé à la lumière naturelle, la possibilité d'un exercice physique adapté. Leur impact sur la qualité et la quantité de sommeil en Unité cognitivo-comportementale a été évalué de manière exploratoire. L'hypnogramme de deux groupes de 30 patients a été comparé selon qu'ils utilisaient le jardin (lorsque la météo le permettait, en été) ou non (en hiver). Les résultats montrent que les patients qui utilisent le jardin sont significativement plus actifs la journée, ont une durée supérieure de sommeil nocturne et sont moins agités la nuit. De plus, les patients utilisant et marchant plus longtemps dans le jardin bénéficient d'une augmentation de leur durée de sommeil. Au vu de leurs intérêts multiples, les jardins thérapeutiques, pour peu qu'ils répondent à des critères de conception validés, devraient être intégrés plus largement dans les établissements accueillants des personnes atteintes de maladies neurocognitives.

Comparative study of false memory in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease.

The production of false memories (FMs) is a normal phenomenon, which can be affected in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Only few studies investigated FMs in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The aim of our preliminary study was to assess FMs in patients with DLB and to identify the underlying cognitive deficits influencing the production of FMs in DLB and AD. Ten AD patients and nine DLB patients performed a memory task (free recall and recognition) coupling two paradigms, namely the DRM (Deese-Roediger-McDermott) paradigm, promoting the production of FMs and the "Remember/Know" (R/K) paradigm, allowing to investigate the phenomenological experience during the recollection of a memory. A standard cognitive evaluation of memory, executive and instrumental functions completed the assessment. No FM was found in the DLB group during free recall, while the number of FMs was substantially identical in both groups during recognition. However, FMs differed from the phenomenological experience, with more K responses in DLB patients and more R responses in AD patients. None of the tests of the standard neuropsychological evaluation did correlate with measures of interest of FMs. In AD patients, the R responses associated with FMs reflect an alteration of the source memory. In DLB patients, the critical item lead to a sense of familiarity, without recollection of the circumstances in which the item was encoded, hence the K responses. This indicates a preservation of their source memory. Contrary to expectations, the type of FMs in both groups was not correlated to their cognitive profile. Hence, cognitive processes underlying the FMs appear to be different in AD and the LBD, but FMs seem independent of memory and executive abilities in these diseases.

[A garden as a care tool in a cognitive-behavior unit]. / Un jardin comme outil de soins en unité cognitivo-comportementale.

Cognitive-behaviour units are specialised units within follow-up and rehabilitation care services for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. These units were created in response to measure 17 of the 3rd Alzheimer's Plan. To stabilise behavioural disorders, as part of a non pharmacological care plan, the therapeutic garden is a useful care tool. This article presents an original initiative in Nancy.

Healing gardens and cognitive behavioral units in the management of Alzheimer's disease patients: the Nancy experience.

The French Alzheimer Plan 2008-2012 anticipates the implementation of new Units specialized in cognitive rehabilitation and psycho-behavioral therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Conceived for AD and other dementia patients of all ages, their objectives are to propose a cognitive rehabilitation program, to prevent or treat psycho-behavioral crises, and to provide support and educational therapy to the family and professional caregivers, in order to ease the patient's return to his or her previous way of life. Studies on green spaces and healing gardens in health-care settings have revealed objective and measurable improvements in the patient's well-being. The Plan officially stipulates for the first time the need to make healing gardens an integral part of these Units, but it does not provide specific recommendations or criteria for implementing such gardens. Although green spaces and gardens are available in many French Care Units, they are rarely specifically adapted to the needs of AD patients. In Nancy, the Art, Memory and Life garden, a specific concept guided by a neuropsychological approach, was developed and complemented by an artistic vision based on cultural invariants. The main objective of this article is to describe the various steps of the process that led to the creation of this garden: the collection of experiences and information by a pilot group, surveys of patients, visitors, and caregivers before and after establishment of the garden, and implementation of a multi-professional group project. The specifications, the organizational criteria, the therapeutic project, and the criteria for the conception of such a garden stemming from our clinical experience with the Art, Memory and Life garden in Nancy, are described herein. We also present the first assessment following the implementation of the project.

[Healing gardens: recommendations and criteria for design]. / Les jardins thérapeutiques : recommandations et critères de conception.

The French Alzheimer plan anticipates new specialized structures for cognitive rehabilitation and psycho-behavioural therapy of Alzheimer's patients: the cognitive-behavioural units as follow-care units, the units of reinforced hospitalization inside the long term care units and the adapted activities units. this plan indicates the need to make healing gardens integral parts of these units. The benefits of green space in urban environments has been demonstrated with regards to physical, psychological and sociological effects and similarly studies in hospitals have revealed objective and measurable improvements of patients well being. Although green spaces and gardens are available in many French care units, they are rarely specifically adapted to the needs of Alzheimer's patients. For the garden "art, memory and life" a specific concept guided by a neuropsychological approach was developed, complemented by an artistic vision based on cultural invariants. It is already used in the frame of non-pharmacological therapies to improve symptoms such as deambulation, sleep disorders, apathy and aggressive behaviors. Based on the literature, and our experience and research, recommendations for the design of such gardens dedicated to Alzheimer's patients can be proposed. Beyond taking into account obvious aspects relating to security, allowing for free access, a careful design of walk-ways and a conscious choice of plants is needed. A systematic analysis of the existing green spaces or garden must be conducted in order to pinpoint the weakness of the space and identify the potential for developing it into a real healing garden. Evaluation of adapted questionnaires for users and professionals allow to establish a list of requirements combining both user requests and therapeutic needs as basis for the design of the garden as well as to evaluate during the course of the project, whether the needs of the various stakeholders have been met or if adjustments are necessary.