Intervenciones no farmacológicas en demenciadesde la prevención al tratamiento

Abstract

Dementia requires a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, accurate and early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and efficient allocation of resources. For its management, initially prioritizing non-pharmacological interventions is recommended due to the absence of adverse effects and the increasing evidence of their benefits. The general objective of this thesis is to delve into the effect of different non-pharmacological interventions (multisensory stimulation, music therapy, light therapy, chess, and virtual reality) on behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) and cognitive functioning in older adults without impairment, with mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. The studies conducted consisted of two systematic reviews and three experimental studies. The main results obtained indicate that multisensory stimulation, music therapy, and light therapy provide positive effects in the management of BPSD, while the chess intervention program revealed a significant improvement in cognitive status. Virtual reality showed potential as a preventive, diagnostic, and treatment tool against cognitive impairment or dementia. Although future research is needed to reinforce these results in order to generalize the application of these interventions in clinical practice, we concluded that the intervention studied can have beneficial effects on BPSD and cognitive functioning in older adults.