Grounding Effect on Alzheimer's Disease

The investigators explore the effectiveness of grounding as a non-pharmacological therapy for treating sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression in patients with mild AD.

Grounding refers to having direct contact with the Earth, such as walking barefoot or lying on the ground. Research has found that grounding can improve inflammation, free radical damage, blood pressure, sleep quality, pain, stress, mood, and wound healing. However, there has been no re-search on the effect of utilizing grounding for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, in this study, the investigators explore the effectiveness of grounding as a non-pharmacological therapy for treating sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression in patients with mild AD. Patients with mild AD were enrolled in the study. The electrochemical analyzer CHI 1205b was employed to check the electrochemical signals at acupoints KI1 and GV16. The investigators used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to evaluate sleep quality, anxiety, and depression, respectively, at weeks 0 and 12.

The investigators use a grounding wire and a sham grounding wire to create grounding and sham-grounding groups. The patients are blinded to the grounding because they do not know which one has a grounding effect according to the exterior of the mat. The investigators who do the evaluation of questionnaire and electrochemical analyzer and the outcomes assessor who interpret the data do not know which wire has grounding effect, too.

The investigators use the grounding mat (EARTHING Conductive Earthing Uni-versal Mat with Earthing Cord) as the grounding method. The grounding group use a grounding wire to sit on a chair barefoot in contact with the grounding mat for 30 minutes.

The investigators use the grounding mat (EARTHING Conductive Earthing Uni-versal Mat with Earthing Cord) as the grounding method. The sham-grounding group use a sham grounding wire to sit on a chair barefoot in contact with the grounding mat for 30 minutes.

The investigators used a grounding wire and a sham grounding wire to create grounding and sham-grounding groups. Participants sat on a chair barefoot in contact with the grounding mat for 30 minutes. The participants were blinded to the grounding because they did not know which one had a grounding effect according to the exterior of the mat.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire for insomnia, score range from 0 to 21, the higher score means worse sleep quality

The investigators measure Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score before the patients participate the study (week 0, baseline data). After receiving 12 weeks grounding, the investigators measure PSQI again (week 12, post grounding data).

The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire for anxiety, score range from 0 to 63, the higher score means more anxiety the patient is.

The investigators measure Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score before the patients participate the study (week 0, baseline data). After receiving 12 weeks grounding, the investigators measure BAI again (week 12, post grounding data).

The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) questionnaire for depression, score range from 0 to 63, the higher score means more depression the patient is.

The investigators measure Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score before the patients participate the study (week 0, baseline data). After receiving 12 weeks grounding, the investigators measure BDI-II again (week 12, post grounding data).

The electrochemical analyzer CHI 1205b is a device that can measure the electric current via reduction-oxidation reaction. The investigators measure the electric current before the patients participate the study (week 0, baseline data). After receiving 12 weeks grounding, the investigators measure the electric current again (week 12, post grounding data).

Inclusion Criteria: diagnosed with dementia, and CDR ≥ 0.5 aged > 50 years, sit with bilateral bare feet on the grounding mat able to answer the questionnaire able to sign the informed consent adequately. Exclusion Criteria: aged less than 50 years inability to sit with bilateral bare feet on the grounding mat currently taking anti-oxidative health supplements or anti-inflammatory medicine.

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