Introduction: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are frequent in Alzheimer's disease and negatively
affect patient quality of life. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of cognitive stimulation on neuropsychiatric symptoms
in elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: The included articles were reviewed between December 2015 and June 2016, and the
inclusion criteria were: (1) studies involving older adults diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease; (2) studies published in English, Spanish or Portuguese; (3)
studies that determined the effect of cognitive stimulation on neuropsychiatric
symptoms in elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease; (4) controlled trials. Results: Out of the total 722, 9 articles matched the inclusion criteria. Depression,
apathy and anxiety were the most frequent symptoms. Conclusion: Studies reported significant results post-treatment, suggesting cognitive
stimulation can be effective for these neuropsychiatric symptoms, thus improving
the quality of life of Alzheimer's disease patients and their caregivers.
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