Dementia is a general term for a series of medical conditions that affect the brain and evolve progressively. According to the literature, there are over 200 subtypes and causes of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the most common in elderly people. AD is an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative condition that leads to a decline in mental function, enough to disrupt daily life. Thinking skills slowly deteriorate, which, in advanced stages, makes it impossible to perform simple tasks. Besides the change in the quality of life of AD patients and their families, there is a considerable alteration in the quality of life of their caregivers, whose health can be negatively affected by the development of mental and somatic disorders. This article reviews the literature in order to reveal the benefits of applying non-pharmacological interventions such as music and art therapy to improve quality of life. This article also aims to shed light on the impact of this disease on the caregiver’s life. Music and art therapy have produced reliable results in the treatment of patients with AD, and the best effects are related to increased socialization and the maintenance of social status.

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a severe and complex disease clinically characterized by disturbed thought processes, delusions, hallucinations and reduced social skills. Gene coding for neregulin 1 (NRG 1) located in 8 p21chromosomeand single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) have been identified strongly supporting NRG1 gene as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia.Objective: The present preliminary study, determines the relationship between polymorphism nucleotide sites (SNPs2) of NRG1 gene and schizophrenia.Aims: Identifying rare allele T of neregulin 1 genein schizophrenic patients.Method: We analyzed the polymorphism (SNPs2) of NRG1 gene in 20 patients recruited from Psychiatry Department of Emergency Clinical Hospital of Arad diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5-TM and ICD-10 criteria and 10 healthy controls. From all subjects, we obtained 2 mL of peripheral blood samples. Genomic DNA was extracted using the phenol-chloroform method. Genotyping was performed byPCR-based RFLP analysis for all subjects. The obtained PCR product mixture was completely digested with restriction enzyme, separated on SNP1 and SNP2 agarose gel. We present the case of a 31 years old, male, schizophrenic patient with the SNPs2 polymorphism and rare allele T 126.Results: In both groups, common allele G 127 and 60 base pairs was identified but only 2 schizophrenic patients presented rare allele T 126 and 30,32 base pairs.Conclusions: The polymorphism SNPs2 of NRG1 gene with rare allele T 126 and 30,32 base pairs, may play a role in predisposing an individual to schizophrenia. Further and extended replicating studies with multiple sequencing of NRG1 gene are necessary.Disclosure of interest: The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.