Evidence for practice/Research news 

This section aims to keep readers up to date with research in dementia care and the current best evidence to support practice. We aim to provide a channel of two-way communication between researchers and practitioners, so that research findings  influence practice and practitioners’ concerns are fed into the research agenda.  

We welcome contributions such as:  

  •  Information on recently-completed studies that are available to readers 
  • Notice of the publication (recent or imminent) of peer reviewed research papers with practical relevance to dementia care 
  • Requests or offers for sharing research information and experience in particular fields of interest 
  • Short comment on important research papers recently published, drawing readers’ attention to new evidence and key points that should inform practice.  

The research papers summarised here are selected for their relevance and importance to dementia care practice by the section editor, Theresa Ellmers. We welcome suggestions of papers to be included: please contact sue@dementiapublishing.community 

Intelligent robots 

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the evidence on intelligence robot interventions. Fifteen studies were included in the final review. It concludes that intelligent robot interventions can help improve anxiety levels of people with dementia but with no discernible effect on a number of other factors including quality of life, neuropsychiatric symptoms, or frequency of physical activity. Intelligent robots were assessed as easing anxiety through interaction and sharing stories, music or simple games. The types of intelligent robots included humanoid and animal robots, and analysis showed no difference in their effectiveness. The use of intelligent robotic interventions is still in its infancy. Projects and research have primarily involved women, have small sample sizes and are concentrated in high income countries.  

Fan W et al. Intelligent robot interventions for people with dementia: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Published online March 2025. https://doi:10.2196/59892 (Open access) 

Day services 

In this study a case analysis is used to think about day services as a health technology in practice and expand the concept of day services as neutral and stable, bounded spaces. The authors use an ethnographic approach to illustrate the conceptualisation of, and research in, day services within the broader infrastructure of family care and other services, and to offer insights into what day services are and how they work. This has implications for practice and how we think about and configure the health technologies that are designed to support the lives of people living at home with dementia. 

Symonds-Brown H et al. Configuring possibilities for people living with dementia at home: day programmes as ‘technologies in practice’. Ageing & Society. Published online December 2024. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X24000564 

Digital health technologies   

This study aimed to examine the academic literature on the use of digital health technologies (DHTs) to support people living with dementia, their families, and care partners.  
It also mapped the landscape of global research initiatives on DHTs on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support of people living with dementia and carers. Results show a steady increase in dementia- and digital health technology-related publications, particularly in areas such as mobile health, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and sensor-based technologies interventions. This increase underscores the importance of systematic approaches and interdisciplinary collaborations, while identifying knowledge gaps. Findings highlight how several research initiatives have covered similar modalities of DHTs and research questions, indicating potential duplication of efforts.   

Abdulazeem H et al. Use of Digital Health Technologies for Dementia Care: Bibliometric Analysis and Report. JMIR Mental Health. Published online February 2025. https://doi: 10.2196/64445 (Open access)

Immersive virtual reality in nursing homes 

This study investigates the feasibility of using immersive virtual reality (iVR) with 35 people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment in nursing homes. The use of iVR involved four scenes, with a total length of eight minutes. These scenes depicted a park with short and rather passive impressions presented as a 360° video in a head-mounted display. The authors report that no negative side effects were observed, in terms of emotional, cognitive or physical outcomes. Most participants were attentive during the iVR experience and the researchers did not observe any anxiety, sadness or anger during the experience with iVR. Observations did not indicate any increased risk of falling or other adverse effects including dizziness or nausea however further studies are needed to investigate prolonged use with a more stimulating environment and possible physical and cognitive tasks.   

Prinz A et al. Use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Nursing Homes for People With Dementia: Feasibility Study to Assess Cognitive, Motor, and Emotional Responses. JMIR XR and Spatial Computing. Publish-ed online August 2024. https:// doi:10.2196/54724 (Open access)

Technology supporting social health 

Digital assistive technology in this article is defined as “any item, piece of equipment, product or system driven by electronics, whether acquired commercially, off-the-shelf, modified or customised, that is used to help people living with dementia in dealing with the consequences of dementia”. This review is an update on a 2017 position paper on challenges regarding digital assistive technologies, around five themes: development, usability, (cost-)effectiveness, implementation and ethics.  
This systematic review summarises progress on those challenges, and persisting or emerging challenges. The article sets out cross cutting priorities for stakeholders: 1) increasing the focus of research on innovative AI solutions; 2) moving away from researching, purchasing and implementing isolated digital assistive technologies towards integrated person-centred digital health ecosystems, establishing consensus on outcomes and appropriate evaluation methods; 3) reducing inequities in access and digital literacy.  

Neal D et al. Digital assistive technologies for community-dwelling people with dementia: A systematic review of systematic reviews by the INTERDEM AI & assistive technology taskforce. Digital Health. Published online August 2025. https:// doi: 10.1177/20552076251362353. (Open access) 

Immersive virtual reality training   

This scoping review maps out the research landscape of VR training for care home staff. The primary barriers included simulation sickness, uncomfortable headsets, and limited immersive, interactive, and embodied experiences. Key facilitators were technical advantages, highly immersive, interactive, and embodied experiences, a safe training environment, individual attributes, and the provision of orientation and support during training. The VR training programs demonstrated the potential to impact caregiving at different levels, including initial reactions, learning (knowledge, skills, and attitudes), behavioural changes, and broader systemic outcomes. Future research should continuously improve the VR training experience by investigating the impact of VR training on dementia care outcomes, such as caregiver-resident interactions. 

Hung L et al. Facilitators, barriers, and impacts to implementing dementia care training for staff in long-term care settings by using fully immersive virtual reality: a scoping review. Frontiers in Virtual Reality. Published online March 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2025.1552370  

Assistive musical technologies 

This article discusses approaches linked with a more positive outlook on dementia, examining the strengths that continue in people living with dementia, as evidenced by how they engage in musical activities. The authors also make a proposal for the design of assistive music technologies that support notions of the ‘we’ perspective, joint agency and joint action, providing wellbeing benefits for people living with dementia and their carers. A case is presented for reassessing the goals and design of musical activities and the technologies to support them. The tools offered in this perspective review are also intended to facilitate reflection on potentially negative and personalised effects as well as the positive benefits of offering music activities. Memory recall, cognitive functioning, mood improvement and participation in conversation may be among outcomes of musical activity. However, closer to the heart of the power of music are processes related to agency, whether as part of individual or joint action: embodied communication, shared attention, shared enjoyment, and complementary or coordinated actions that can be done in enhanced ways through appropriate supportive technology. 

Christensen J et al. Reassessing the goals of musical activities for people living with dementia: Supporting joint agency, selfhood and couplehood with an embodied and relational approach. Journal of Aging Studies. Published online March 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2024.101289 (Open access) 

Care techniques and advanced dementia 

This article discusses moving beyond dementia care practice as a set of “techniques” to understand and make explicit “humanising” formal caring relationships with people living with advanced dementia. Based on lifeworld-led theory, the authors identify four ways within formal caregivers’ experience to humanise care recipients living with advanced dementia, which are described as: the continuity of self, the touch of the world, the kindred understanding, and the invisible bond. They argue that this requires the caregiver to engage in a genuine human relation with those for whom they care. Engagement in recognising and supporting the intrinsic humanness of the care recipient can guide a more humanly sensitive care practice that prioritises and maintains the visibility of the person with advanced dementia symptoms. 

Bogmose J et al. Everyone needs a hug: A lifeworld-led approach to recognise and maintain the person of care recipients living with advanced dementia. Dementia. Published online October 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012251388683 (Restricted access).  

Experiences of the African Caribbean Community in the UK  

African Caribbean people in the UK have a higher incidence of dementia compared to White people. Previous research has investigated barriers to help-seeking for dementia in ethnic minorities, as they are more likely to experience missed diagnosis, receive their diagnosis at a later stage, and less likely to use dementia services.  
Given their increased risk, this interview study focuses specifically on the African Caribbean community. This paper explores the historical experiences, cultural and familial expectations within these communities, as well as ongoing racism and cultural insensitivity in services. Several suggestions are made about ways to encourage people of African Caribbean heritage to make more timely use of dementia services. 

Brown M et al. Delayed Access to Dementia Services: The Experiences of the African Caribbean Community in the UK. Dementia. Published online September 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012251381009 (Open access) 

Digital assistive technologies and quality of life

This scoping review highlights Digital Assistive Technologies (DAT) and their role in the quality of life of people living with dementia in several identified thematic areas: autonomy, engagement, social interaction, health monitoring and promotion, supporting daily tasks, cognition, maintaining dignity, stress and distress, safety/monitoring.  

Schneider C et al. Impact of digital assistive technologies on the quality of life for people with dementia: a scoping review. BMJ Open. Published online February 2024. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080545 (Open access)