»He is back. He is once again the man I have always known.«
Walter F. and his wife have been through a drastic change in their lives over the last few years. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease came unexpectedly and hit them both hard. Walter F., a once active and gregarious man, became increasingly withdrawn. He became quiet, his cognitive abilities declined rapidly, and everyday tasks became challenging.
Walter F. became increasingly difficult to speak with and lost enjoyment of his hobbies. His wife hardly recognised her husband and in despair looked for a solution. A visit to a doctor resulted in the diagnosis, but the proposed medication was not an option for the couple, as the side effects seemed intolerable.
The search for an alternative
Walter F.’s wife tirelessly searched for alternative treatment methods and eventually came across Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS). After intensive research, the pair found a doctor who offered this method and they decided to try out this supplementary therapy.
Progress in everyday activities and test results
Even after the first few sessions, an improvement became apparent. Walter F., who previously hardly ever spoke, returned to his animated self and once again actively participated in conversations and everyday activities. Most notably, he enthusiastically resumed working in the garden, which he used to love. He now gets up early every morning, makes breakfast, walks the dog and spends time working in the garden. His time is also once again filled with his old hobbies such as solving crossword puzzles and reading. This daily activity returned not only his physical, but also mental stability.
The neurocognitive tests, which are carried out regularly, document his progress. Before starting the TPS treatment, in a Stroop Colour-Word Interference Test (CWIT), which tests executive function and working memory in particular, Walter F. needed 115 seconds on average. In view of progressive Alzheimer’s disease, one would have expected to see a worse result, i.e. a longer processing time, over time. Instead, Walter F. has managed to not only stabilise his performance, but also increase it: at the last measurement, almost one year later, he needed just 95 seconds. In addition, in the CERAD-Plus test, Walter F. showed significantly fewer deficits compared with the previous year. For his wife, it is as though she has won back her husband. Everyday life, previously overshadowed by anxiety and helplessness, has now become worth living again.
A life with new perspective
Even if the disease never disappears, Mr F. and his wife have learned how to handle it. They are looking forward to regained quality of life and feel grateful for being able to enjoy life together again.
