**Non-Pharmacological Approaches in the Treatment of Dementia**

Grazia D'Onofrio, Daniele Sancarlo, Davide Seripa, Francesco Ricciardi, Francesco Giuliani, Francesco Panza and Antonio Greco

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/Chapter DOI: 10.5772/64232

#### **Abstract**

Currently, a pharmacological disease-modifying treatment for dementia is not available, but different non-pharmacological approaches appear to be useful. In this chapter, we describe traditional treatments such as cognitive and emotion-oriented interventions, sensory and multi-sensory stimulation interventions and also potential‐ ly alternative interesting options such as behavioural therapy, animal-assisted therapy, home-adaptation therapy and assistive technologies to support patient with demen‐ tia. Many non-pharmacological treatments have reported benefits in multiple re‐ search studies, but there is a need for further Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with an adequate sample size to improve the strength of evidence in order to apply these approaches.

**Keywords:** dementia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, activities of daily living, cognitive and emotion-oriented interventions, sensory and multi-sensory stimulation interven‐ tions
