Non-pharmacological interventions for persons with dementia: what are they and how should they be studied?

Abstract

The publication of four papers concerning non-pharmacological interventions for persons with dementia heralds progress in the science of dementia care. The four papers are very diverse in focus and methodology, and include a study of the impact of a visual arts program on quality of life, communication, and well-being by Windle et al. (2017); an overview of systematic reviews of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia by Dyer et al. (2017); a systematic review of the efficacy of intervention in people with Lewy body dementia by Morrin et al. (2017); and a protocol of the Behavior and Evolution of Young Onset Dementia part two (BEYOND-II) study, an intervention study aimed at improvement in the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in institutionalized people with young onset dementia by van Duinen-van den IJssel et al. (2017).

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nonpharmacological Interventions for Moderate to Severe Dementia

“…Antipsychotics, which are commonly prescribed for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), are associated with serious adverse effects, including pneumonia, cardiovascular events, stroke, fractures, and kidney failure [7,8]. Above all, pharmacological interventions cannot fulfill the needs of PWD and their caregivers, including relief of pain and discomfort, the need for social contact, and alleviation of boredom [9]. For these reasons, a combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions (NPI) is strongly recommended for PWD [10-13].…”

Differences in priority by age group and perspective: implications for public health education and campaigning in relation to dementia

“…It is important to include the voice of people with dementia, which in two recent reviews by Cole et al (2018) and Conway et al (2018) has been shown to be lacking in intervention and research design. People's needs for non-pharmacological, needs-addressing, and psychosocial interventions are likely to vary not only by type of dementia, as pointed out by Cohen-Mansfield (2018), but also by age. Considering perspective and age difference in the reception of messages might provoke a rethink of how campaigns are targeted, taking the position of the recipient more explicitly into account.…”

Hypothetical Interventions on Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment among Chinese Older Adults: An Application of the Parametric G-Formula

“…Cognitive interventions at the preclinical phases could be beneficial in delaying the onset of cognitive impairment [17][18][19]. Randomized control trials (RCTs) have offered some short-term impact of interventions that can improve cognitive function such as dance [20], exercise [21], physical activities [22], and psychological intervention [23].…”