Abstract
Patients with dementia suffer from psychological symptoms such as depression, agitation, and aggression. One purpose of dementia intervention is to manage patients’ inappropriate behaviors and psychological symptoms while taking into consideration their quality of life (QOL). Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) and pet-robot intervention (PRI) are effective intervention strategies for older people with cognitive impairment and dementia. In addition, AAI and PRI have been shown to have positive effects on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). However, studies into the association between AAI/PRI and BPSD have elicited inconsistent results. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate this association. We analyzed nine randomized controlled trials on AAI and PRI for dementia patients published between January 2000 and August 2019 and evaluated the impact of AAI/PRI on agitation, depression, and QOL. We found that AAI and PRI significantly reduce depression in patients with dementia. Subsequent studies should investigate the impact of AAI and PRI on the physical ability and cognitive function of dementia patients and conduct a follow-up to investigate their effects on the rate of progression and reduction of symptoms of dementia. Our research will help with neuropsychological and environmental intervention to delay or improve the development and progression of BPSD.
Highlights
In 2016, it was estimated that 47 million individuals are living with dementia worldwide, and this figure is projected to increase to 113 million in 30 years
Dementia patients were subjected to various interventions involving living or robotic animals
An additional 506 studies were excluded: 1 because the original text was unavailable, 9 because they were written in a language other than English, 173 because they were not randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 216 because they were duplicates, 92 because they were inappropriate for the purpose of our study/because they were unsuitable based on a review of their titles and abstracts, and 7 because data were missing or disorganized
Summary
In 2016, it was estimated that 47 million individuals are living with dementia worldwide, and this figure is projected to increase to 113 million in 30 years. The public health burden of dementia is anticipated to significantly increase in the coming years [1]. Biomedicines 2020, 8, 150 implemented national strategies aimed at optimizing dementia management in preparation for the anticipated burden of dementia and its effects on their healthcare system [3]. Dementia patients commonly suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) [4]. BPSD include socially inappropriate neurobehavioral symptoms such as mental and emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, and sleep disorders [5]. Depression and agitation are the most common emotional problems that affect dementia patients [4].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
