Impact of magnetic therapy on cognitive functions and emotional background in elderly and senile patients

Due to the high prevalence of dementia in older age groups, a search is underway for effective and safe treatments for cognitive impairment (CI). Objective: to study the impact of magnetic therapy on cognitive functions (CF), sleep, and anxiety in elderly and senile patients. Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 60 elderly and senile patients (27 males; 33 females; mean age, 76.2±9.4 years). According to preliminary neuropsychological tests, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 1) mild CI; 2) moderate CI; and 3) mild dementia. The patients in each group were also randomized to 2 subgroups of 10 people: a no-treatment control group and a magnetic therapy study group. Magnetic therapy was performed using the Almag-03. The therapy cycle involved fourteen 15-20-minute sessions for 14 days. After 14 days, neuropsychological tests were carried out in the control and study groups. Results. After a magnetic therapy cycle, the clock drawing test and the Luria “10 words" test showed that their scores in Group 1 patients increased by 15 and 24%, respectively, as compared to those in the control subgroup. These tests in Group 2 indicated that magnetic therapy caused a rise in the number of scores by 45 and 28%, respectively, compared to those in the control subgroup. Magnetic therapy had no impact on CF in Group 3 patients. After magnetic therapy, the patients of all the study groups showed a significant sleep improvement by 9, 7 and 8%, respectively, compared to the control subgroup. In Group 3 patients, magnetic therapy decreased the number of geriatric depression scale scores by 19% compared to that in the control subgroup. After a magnetic therapy cycle, in Groups 2 and 3 patients anxiety decreased by 32 and 21%, respectively, compared to the control subgroup. Conclusion. Patients over 65 years of age who had mild to moderate CI were found to have better CF and sleep quality and decreased anxiety after magnetic therapy. The latter is a promising treatment option for elderly and senile patients with cognitive impairment and emotional disorders.