Article of the month November 2020

The website committee selected the following publication of the month for November 2020:

“Toward a theory-based specification of non-pharmacological treatments in aging and dementia: Focused reviews and methodological recommendations”

 Sikkes, S.A.M., Tang, Y., Jutten, R.J., Wesselman, L.M.P., Turkstra, L.S., Brodaty, H., Clare, L., Cassidy-Eagle, E., Cox, K.L., Chételat, G., Dautricourt, S., Dhana, K., Dodge, H., Dröes, R.-M., Hampstead, B.M., Holland, T., Lampit, A., Laver, K., Lutz, A., Lautenschlager, N.T., McCurry, S.M., Meiland, F.J.M., Morris, M.C., Mueller, K.D., Peters, R., Ridel, G., Spector, A., van der Steen, J.T., Tamplin, J., Thompson, Z. & Bahar-Fuchs, A. on behalf of the ISTAART Non-pharmacological Interventions Professional Interest

In the systematic overview paper, experts in Non-pharmacological treatments (NPT) have used umbrella theoretical framework to classify research in NPT in the context of aging and dementia studies, identify key challenges for different NPTs, and provide methodological guidelines for the design of future trials of NPTs. Applying the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification Framework (RTSS), the authors defined and specified the targets and ingredients of 13 nonpharmacological treatments (NPTs), including cognitive training, cognitive rehabilitation, physical exercise training or communication treatments. The evidence supports the efficacy of most NPTs in relation to their primary targets and indicates that RTSS are likely to make important contributions to our ability to specify existing treatment, design new treatment trials, and synthesize the evidence.

https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.12188#