How do people find meaning in the experience of dementia?

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the abstract and stated research gap and future-work section of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2012 and 2026, spanning 4 journals. Those papers have been cited 28 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 4 representative gaps

• The impact of montessori-based programmes on individuals with dementia living in residential aged care: A systematic review (2023) · Dementia · cited 13× · 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.

  generalabstractevidence 5/5
  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) · Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging · cited 15× · 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.

  generalabstractevidence 5/5
  Keywords: people dementia programs find meaning experience living supported meaningful activities alleviate depression increase sense well
• Breaking Cognitive Barriers: Comparing Neurobic and Aerobic Approaches in Dementia Care (2026) · OBM Neurobiology · doi

  There is a lack of research on the effects of neurobic and aerobic approaches in dementia care. There is a need for studies that investigate the effectiveness of exercise-based interventions for dementia care. There is a gap in the understanding of the mechanisms by which exercise improves cognitive performance in older adults.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: there lack research effects neurobic aerobic approaches dementia
• Motor and functional correlates of cognitive performance in older adults (2026) · Romanian Journal of Neurology · doi

  Future studies should investigate the longitudinal relationships between cognitive function and functional status in older adults. Research should explore the development of personalized interventions to promote cognitive health in older adults. Studies should examine the effectiveness of interventions aimed at promoting cognitive health in older adults.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: future studies investigate longitudinal relationships between cognitive function

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