Socialising can help fight depression in people with dementia, say Sheffield researchers

Researchers from the University of Sheffield and Brighton and Sussex Medical School, have analysed the use of cognitive stimulation as an effective treatment for people with dementia.

Cognitive stimulation is a nonpharmacological treatment for dementia which typically includes group activities emphasising social interaction.

The assessment carried out by the researchers found that these treatments can reduce symptoms of depression in people with dementia as well as having a positive effect on memory and dementia ratings.

Dr Claudia von Bastian, senior author of the research from the University of Sheffield, said: “Our research highlights that cognitive stimulation can be a safe, relatively cheap and accessible treatment to help reduce some of the core symptoms of dementia and may even alleviate symptoms of depression.

“We still need to learn more about the key ingredients of cognitive stimulation which lead to these benefits, how they influence the progression of dementia, but the absence of negative side-effects and the low costs of this treatment means the benefits are clear.”

Dr Ben Hicks, from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, said: “Our research is the first to comprehensively interrogate the evidence base for its effectiveness, using the most up to date statistical techniques.

"While early signs are positive, there’s an urgent need to improve the rigour of evaluative research and better assess the long-term benefits of cognitive stimulation. People with dementia need effective treatments. As a research community, this is what we must deliver.”