Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Holistic Approach

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594822402095

• Palavras-chave: Diagnosis, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Quality of Life, Treatment.

• Keywords: Diagnosis, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Quality of Life, Treatment.

• Abstract:

  Neurodegenerative diseases affect a significant number of people globally, with a growing prevalence that accompanies the increase in life expectancy. However, care strategies are still centered on pharmacological approaches and invasive therapies, often to the detriment of early diagnosis, holistic treatment, and adequate patient care that ensures quality of life. This article seeks to understand neurodegenerative diseases from a holistic perspective, given their growing prevalence and impact on society, highlighting their characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, care, and preventive measures. This is a critical review of current scientific literature, using PubMed as the search database with the descriptors "holistic neurodegenerative disease." The inclusion criteria were review and systematic review articles available in full from the last 10 years, comprising a total of 28 incorporated manuscripts. The literature presents two categories of analysis: the etiology and conventional treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and multidisciplinary care and quality of life with early identification of risk factors. It was observed that, although there has been progress in the traditional approach to neurodegenerative diseases, the holistic approach guarantees more effective care when multidisciplinary teams and empathy are adopted in the doctor-patient relationship.