Animal-Assisted Interventions for Dementia: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychiatric Nursing
• Animal-Assisted Interventions

Background:

• Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) significantly impact individuals with dementia and their families.
• BPSD, including agitation and anxiety, affect approximately 97% of over 5 million Americans living with dementia.
• Nonpharmacological treatments are sought for managing BPSD, with animal-assisted interventions (AAI) gaining attention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on the use of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) for treating behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of 3,573 publications was conducted.
• Fifteen articles meeting specific inclusion criteria were selected for analysis.
• All included studies focused on the application of AAI in addressing BPSD in individuals with dementia.

Main Results:

• The review of selected studies indicates that animal-assisted interventions (AAI) may offer benefits for individuals experiencing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Conclusions:

• Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) present a potential nonpharmacological strategy for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
• Further rigorous research is required to overcome limitations in current studies and solidify the evidence base for AAI in dementia care.