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“Memorare” a multidimensional intervention for people with major neurocognitive disorder: a series of six case studies
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Cognitive and functional impairments in dementia significantly affect quality of life and
autonomy, while current pharmacological treatments offer limited symptomatic relief. In recent
years, non-pharmacological interventions have gained relevance, but many remain one dimensional and lack clinical validation, personalization, or ecological validity. Technology supported interventions, such as serious games, virtual reality, and interactive systems, are
increasingly explored as accessible, person-centered alternatives for cognitive and emotional care
in people with dementia.
This thesis is divided into two parts. Part I presents a systematic review of clinical studies
integrating technology in neuropsychological interventions for people with dementia. Following
PRISMA guidelines, 250 articles were screened from five databases (B-ON, PubMed, Google
Scholar, ACM, and IEEE Xplore), yielding 11 eligible studies published between 2015 and 2025.
The findings suggest that mobile applications, virtual environments, socially assistive robots, and
biosensors have potential to improve engagement, cognitive stimulation, and mood, although most
studies are small, exploratory, and lack randomized controlled designs. The review highlights
critical gaps in the long-term efficacy, methodological rigor, and personalization of digital
interventions for dementia.
Part II describes a feasibility study involving six male inpatients with major neurocognitive
disorders of multiple etiologies, residing in a mental health institution. A six-week,
multidimensional intervention — the Memorare program — was implemented, integrating three
therapeutic modules: cognitive stimulation and reminiscence therapy via the Musiquence platform,
and sensory stimulation using a textured panel. Pre- and post-intervention neuropsychological
assessments (Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale – 15 items, Quality of
Life in Alzheimer’s Disease, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Lisbon Battery for Dementia
Assessment and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) revealed a general decline in global
cognition, as expected in progressive neurodegenerative conditions. However, reductions in
neuropsychiatric symptoms and improvements in affective state and quality of life were observed in several participants. PANAS data indicated consistently higher positive affect and reduced
negative affect during cognitive stimulation sessions.
These findings suggest that multidimensional, personalized, technology-based interventions like
Memorare can positively impact mood, engagement, and behavioral symptoms in dementia care,
even in advanced stages. This dissertation reinforces the importance of integrating interactive,
person-centered systems into non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies and identifies future
directions for clinical research through controlled, larger-scale trials.
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Dementia Cognitive stimulation Reminiscence therapy Sensory stimulation Technology-based interventions Case studies Systematic review Clinical Health Psychology and Wellbeing . Faculdade de Artes e Humanidades