Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Individuals with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often face unmet needs and reduced engagement in meaningful activities.
• Social participation, particularly through work-related activities, shows potential for improving mental well-being in this demographic.
• Limited research exists on the specific impact of work-related activities on the mental health of people with dementia or MCI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of participation in work-related activities on mental well-being.
• To identify associated factors influencing mental well-being in people with dementia or MCI engaged in work-related activities.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter cross-sectional study involving 128 participants with dementia or MCI from a day service.
• Data collected included the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and various confounders (e.g., cognitive function, social frailty).
• Statistical analyses included comparisons between work-related activity and usual care groups, propensity score matching, and multiple regression analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants in work-related activities reported significantly better mental well-being (WHO-5 scores) compared to the usual care group, even after adjusting for covariates.
• Multiple regression analysis indicated that participation in work-related activities was a significant positive influence on mental well-being.
• Social frailty was also identified as a potential factor influencing mental well-being, though its significance was borderline (p=0.056).

Conclusions:

• Participation in work-related activities positively impacts the mental well-being of individuals with dementia or MCI.
• Further longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm and explore the long-term effects of these activities.