Aging Population and Dementia: A Review of Environmental Interventions
This paper examines the growing problem of dementia among the elderly, including its prevalence, risk factors, and impact on patients and their families. It provides background on the two leading forms of dementia—Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia—before offering a detailed analysis of a systematic review conducted by Jensen and Padilla (2017). That review assessed the effectiveness of environment-based interventions targeting behavior, perception, and falls in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related neurocognitive disorders. The paper evaluates the study's qualitative methodology, thematic data synthesis, key findings, and identified limitations, concluding that environmental approaches show promise for care providers despite constraints related to sample size and population heterogeneity.
- Introduction: Defines dementia and introduces the central study
- Background on Dementia in the Elderly: Prevalence, risk factors, and global impact
- Overview of the Jensen and Padilla Study: Study type, purpose, and qualitative approach
- Research Design and Methodology: Search strategy, inclusion criteria, and databases
- Key Findings and Evidence: Intervention types and thematic evidence results
- Limitations of the Study: Sample size issues and population heterogeneity
- Conclusion: Summary of dementia burden and study contributions
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What makes this paper effective
- Grounds the analysis in concrete prevalence statistics from multiple authoritative sources (WHO, Alzheimer's Association, Ministry of Health), giving the background section strong empirical weight.
- Accurately identifies the study's methodological character—correctly labeling it qualitative despite the inclusion of quantitative studies—and supports that classification with a direct quotation from the source.
- Balances summary with evaluation by addressing both the study's contributions and its limitations, demonstrating critical reading rather than passive description.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates systematic source analysis: it unpacks a published systematic review by examining its purpose, search strategy, inclusion criteria, thematic approach, and stated limitations rather than simply paraphrasing its conclusions. This layered engagement shows readers how to interrogate a secondary source at the methodological level, a skill central to undergraduate health and social science writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper follows a clear four-part structure: an introduction that defines dementia and frames the central study; a background section establishing prevalence and risk factors; a multi-part body that walks through the Jensen and Padilla (2017) review's design, methodology, findings, and limitations; and a synthesizing conclusion. Each section builds on the previous one, moving from context to analysis to evaluation.
Introduction
Dementia is generally defined as a condition that impacts the elderly population and includes "impairments in cognitive and intellectual ability, memory, language, reasoning, and judgment that interfere with everyday functioning" (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2014). The two leading types of dementia in the world are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia (Livingston et al., 2017). Dementia is a significant concern for the elderly population because it is so prevalent and still somewhat poorly understood. As Jayadev et al. (2010) point out, the cause of the disease remains relatively unknown, which makes treating it difficult for care providers. An average of 25 million elderly people suffer from some form of dementia in developed nations—and that number is double in developing nations (Livingston et al., 2017). The best that care providers can hope for in this situation is to address it through preventive care interventions, such as environmental interventions. The study by Jensen and Padilla (2017) focuses on patient-centered care approaches designed to help reduce the number of problematic behaviors demonstrated by elderly patients with dementia. This paper provides background information on the problem of dementia and analyzes the study by Jensen and Padilla (2017).
Background on Dementia in the Elderly
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for approximately 60% to 80% of all dementia cases. Ten percent of elderly persons over the age of 65 suffer from the symptoms of dementia, and 30% of persons over the age of 85 suffer from it (Ministry of Health, 2018). Dementia negatively impacts a person's memory and mental functioning, making it difficult for the elderly individual to remember once-familiar persons and places. Those who suffer from dementia are often confused, frustrated, and can become violently angry.
Risk factors associated with the onset of dementia include lifestyle choices such as smoking, insufficient exercise, and poor diet (Ministry of Health, 2018). Dementia affects both the aging population and their loved ones—typically their children, who are usually the ones tasked with coping with a parent's disease and attempting to provide regular care. Frustration can occur for both the elderly individual and their children, friends, and loved ones. Because this disease can affect between 1 and 3 out of every 10 aged persons, it is important that it be well understood and that effective treatments be developed.
The disease is a significant concern for the elderly population given its prevalence. The World Health Organization estimates that 47 million people worldwide have dementia and that the problem is worsening: by 2030, an estimated 75 million people may be affected (WHO, 2017). An estimated 5.7 million Americans currently suffer from a form of dementia (Alzheimer's Association, 2018).
Overview of the Jensen and Padilla Study
The study conducted by Jensen and Padilla was a systematic review that incorporated both qualitative and quantitative studies. The methods section described precisely what types of studies were included, their number, and the results of those studies. Because both qualitative and quantitative findings were discussed in the systematic review by Jensen and Padilla (2017), the study could be described as having a mixed-methods basis. However, the researchers did not conduct any statistical analysis, and the discussion primarily centered on qualitative features, so the study overall is best described as qualitative. The researchers themselves stated in the methods section that "given the heterogeneity of the included studies, we used a qualitative approach to data synthesis" (Jensen & Padilla, 2017, p. 3). The studies used in the systematic review were assessed thematically rather than statistically, which further confirms its qualitative character.
Research Design and Methodology
The research design was that of a systematic review—a literature review of relevant studies examining person-centered approaches to treating elderly patients with dementia. The purpose of the study was "to appraise the effectiveness of environment-based interventions that address behavior, perception, and falls in people with AD and related major NCDs" (Jensen & Padilla, 2017, p. 2). The researchers conducted a search of peer-reviewed articles on MEDLINE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and OTseeker. The search yielded 1,854 sources, of which 154 were reviewed based on established inclusion criteria.
Conclusion
Dementia is a problem that can impact 1–3 out of every 10 elderly persons in the U.S. Around the world it affects millions every year, and the numbers are only getting worse. Patients suffering from dementia and their loved ones need effective ways of coping with the disease, as there is presently no cure and only a limited understanding of how and why it develops. The systematic review by Jensen and Padilla (2017) helps to shed some light on the most effective approaches to treating dementia in the elderly. Their qualitative study involved a literature review of more than 150 relevant studies, including randomized controlled trials and other systematic reviews. The data were analyzed and assessed thematically to provide qualitative guidance for care providers seeking to improve their practice. While limitations related to sample size and population heterogeneity constrain the generalizability of its conclusions, the review remains a valuable resource for practitioners working with elderly patients with dementia.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2015). Non-pharmacologic interventions for agitation and aggression in dementia. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/search-for-guides-reviews-and-reports/?productid=1999&pageaction=displayproduct
Alzheimer's Association. (2018). Facts and figures. Retrieved from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
Jayadev, S., Leverenz, J. B., Steinbart, E., Stahl, J., Klunk, W., Yu, C. E., & Bird, T. D. (2010). Alzheimer's disease phenotypes and genotypes associated with mutations in presenilin 2. Brain, 133(4), 1143–1154.
Jensen, L., & Padilla, R. (2017). Effectiveness of environment-based interventions that address behavior, perception, and falls in people with Alzheimer's disease and related major neurocognitive disorders: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(5), 7105180030p1–7105180030p10.
Livingston, G., Sommerlad, A., Orgeta, V., Costafreda, S. G., Huntley, J., Ames, D., … & Cooper, C. (2017). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. The Lancet, 390(10113), 2673–2734.
Ministry of Health. (2018). What is dementia? Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.il/English/Topics/SeniorHealth/DEMENTIA/Pages/Background.aspx
WHO. (2017). 10 facts on dementia. Retrieved from
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