CONCLUSIONS: Limited data from two studies suggest that support groups may be of psychological benefit to people with dementia by reducing depression and improving quality of life and self-esteem.

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 7 representative gaps

• Effects of an Assisted Living Facility Specifically Designed for Individuals with Memory Disorders: A Pilot Study (2014) · doi

  Despite evidence suggesting the physical environment can enhance mood and quality of life (QoL) of dementia patients, this issue has not been examined extensively within the setting of an assisted living (AL) facility.

  Keywords: despite evidence suggesting physical environment enhance mood quality life dementia patients issue examined extensively within
• The impact of montessori-based programmes on individuals with dementia living in residential aged care: A systematic review (2023) · doi

  Four key categories of outcomes were observed: (1) significantly improved engagement; (2) significantly improved mental health outcomes, including affect, depression, agitation, excessive eating and psychotropic medication prescriptions; (3) significantly improved feeding difficulty but mixed results regarding nutritional status; and (4) no significant changes in the activities of daily living and quality of life of individuals with dementia.

  Keywords: improved outcomes four categories observed engagement mental health including affect depression agitation excessive eating psychotropic
• Seeking Meaning: Making Art and the Experience of Spirituality in Dementia Care (2012) · doi

  How do people find meaning in the experience of dementia? Can people living with dementia be supported in meaningful activities that may alleviate depression and increase their sense of well-being? Many programs are offered for people in residential aged care, but little is known about the effectiveness of these programs.

  Keywords: people dementia programs find meaning experience living supported meaningful activities alleviate depression increase sense well
• Efficacy of Behavioral Interventions for Dementia Caregivers (2007) · doi

  Psychosocial interventions have been shown to reduce caregiver emotional distress, but few studies have examined the efficacy of these interventions with caregivers exposed to high levels of dementia-related behavioral symptoms.

  Keywords: interventions psychosocial reduce caregiver emotional distress examined efficacy caregivers exposed high levels dementia related behavioral
• Social support group interventions in people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review of the literature (2014) · doi

  CONCLUSIONS: Limited data from two studies suggest that support groups may be of psychological benefit to people with dementia by reducing depression and improving quality of life and self-esteem.

  Keywords: conclusions limited suggest support groups psychological benefit people dementia reducing depression improving quality life self
• Disability and mild cognitive impairment: a longitudinal population‐based study (2001) · doi

  BACKGROUND: While considerable research has been conducted on the effect of senile dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders on ability to perform everyday activities, little is known about the much larger group of elderly persons suffering from mild cognitive deficits.

  Keywords: background considerable conducted effect senile dementia neurodegenerative disorders ability perform everyday activities little known larger
• Psychiatric disorders and risk of subsequent dementia: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of longitudinal studies (2022) · doi

  Abstract Objectives Although psychiatric disorders have been found to be associated with increased risk of dementia, previous findings are mixed, and the nature of these relationships remains poorly understood.

  Keywords: abstract objectives psychiatric disorders found associated increased risk dementia previous mixed nature relationships remains poorly