Stimulation of sensory perception could retard the decline in sensory function in elderly people with Alzheimer's disease Presenting the findiings of the GYMSEN project: GYMSEM: training the sensory function to improve the nutritional status in elderly people

1. Stimulation of sensory perception could retard the decline in
sensory function in elderly people with Alzheimer's disease
Experts estimate that about 90% of patients older than 80 years present appetite disorders associated
with decreased of sensory capacities derived from aging
More than hundred elders between 50 and 95 years old from Spain, Czech Republic, Greece and Italy
have taken part on the European GYMSEN Project, with the aim of preventing and retarding the
functional and cognitive decline of elderly people
(Prague, 31/08/2016) Stimulation of sensory perception could retard the decline in sensory function in
elderly people with Alzheimer's disease, according to the results of European GYMSEN Project in whichthe
European Development Agency has participated.
Through the performance of different exercises to stimulate the sensory function, especially the smell and
taste, an improvement in the identification capacities and perception of food has been seen for
the group of patients with Alzheimer's disease who were exposed to different sensory training examples.
GYMSEM: training the sensory function to improve the nutritional status in elderly people
Experts estimate that about 90% of patients over 80 years of age have appetite alterations (hyporexia,
malnutrition) due to the loss of sensory capacity derived from aging. Incorrect feeding can lead to
important nutritional deficiencies, infections or other disorders with serious health consequences.
The GYMSEN Project, funded by Erasmus+ call has had as objective the development of a methodology
for helping to prevent and retard both the sensory and cognitive declines of elderly people, especially of
smell and taste. The project has developed a training tool by which participants have exercised their
sensory capacities during the project.
Participants involved in the project have been Universidad Miguel Hernández (Spain), leading the project,
AINIA centro tecnológico (Spain), Anziani e Non Solo (Italy), SP Sveriges Tekniska Forkningsintitut
(Sweeden), European Development Agency (Czech Republic) and Athens Association of Alzheimer’s
Disease and Related Disorders (Greece).
More than hundred elders between 50 and 95 years old from Spain, Czech Republic, Greece
and Italy have taken part on the European GYMSEN Project
Specifically, during periods of 9 to 11 weeks, more than hundred elders with four different profiles
regarding physical activity, health and dependence, aged between 50 and 95 years old have
performed different activities as: identification and recognition of smells, tastes and aromas; description
of odours, aromas flavours and tastes; olfactory and gustatory memory games. In addition, the
description of memories is also done after smell, taste and manipulates different foods.
Specifically, in Spain these exercises were conducted with a group of healthy and active seniors. In the
Czech Republic, the project has focused on a group of healthy people, but with lower intensity activity,
while in Greece are Alzheimer's and Italy elderly people admitted to centres or residences.
During the project the European Development Agency has cooperated with Právě teď, o. p. s. and
organized a training for about 15 Prague seniors. We are sure that the programme created during the
project will be used after the end of the project as both the trainers and the participants perceived the
training as very useful and fun at the same time.