The impact of COVID-19 measures on health-related outcomes in people with dementia: A systematic review of reviews

The COVID-19 pandemic led to nations worldwide implementing measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Dementia is a leading cause of death globally. People with dementia were particularly vulnerable to the measures implemented during the pandemic. To explore the health-related impact of pandemic...

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Main Authors: Amelia Davies, Aysegul Humeyra Kafadar, Katy A Jones
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Gerontology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28324897.2025.2506566
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author Amelia Davies
Aysegul Humeyra Kafadar
Katy A Jones
author_facet Amelia Davies
Aysegul Humeyra Kafadar
Katy A Jones
author_sort Amelia Davies
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic led to nations worldwide implementing measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Dementia is a leading cause of death globally. People with dementia were particularly vulnerable to the measures implemented during the pandemic. To explore the health-related impact of pandemic restriction measures on people with dementia. A systematic search of four databases (PubMed, PROSPERO, EMBASE and Cochrane Library) was conducted (November 2023, and November 2024). The PRISMA Checklist 2020 was used for quality checking. Extracted data were analysed using narrative analysis. Seventeen reviews were included in the qualitative synthesis. All the included reviews reported a decline in different health-related outcomes of people with dementia due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Fourteen reviews reported effects on psychological outcomes, 13 showed worsening of cognitive function, and 12 showed worsening of behavioural symptoms. Seven reviews reported a decline in physical outcomes and one reported increased mortality rate. Overall, there was a general decline in health-related outcomes of people with dementia during theCOVID-19 pandemic associated with the restriction measures put in place. Further research should examine how to overcome issues resulting from the restrictions, such as loneliness, to improve health-related outcomes for people with dementia.
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spelling doaj-art-ecca8bb464bf4d7496586c6ac55636512025-08-20T03:49:18ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Gerontology2832-48972025-12-014110.1080/28324897.2025.2506566The impact of COVID-19 measures on health-related outcomes in people with dementia: A systematic review of reviewsAmelia Davies0Aysegul Humeyra Kafadar1Katy A Jones2Academic Unit of Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UKAcademic Unit of Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UKAcademic Unit of Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UKThe COVID-19 pandemic led to nations worldwide implementing measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Dementia is a leading cause of death globally. People with dementia were particularly vulnerable to the measures implemented during the pandemic. To explore the health-related impact of pandemic restriction measures on people with dementia. A systematic search of four databases (PubMed, PROSPERO, EMBASE and Cochrane Library) was conducted (November 2023, and November 2024). The PRISMA Checklist 2020 was used for quality checking. Extracted data were analysed using narrative analysis. Seventeen reviews were included in the qualitative synthesis. All the included reviews reported a decline in different health-related outcomes of people with dementia due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Fourteen reviews reported effects on psychological outcomes, 13 showed worsening of cognitive function, and 12 showed worsening of behavioural symptoms. Seven reviews reported a decline in physical outcomes and one reported increased mortality rate. Overall, there was a general decline in health-related outcomes of people with dementia during theCOVID-19 pandemic associated with the restriction measures put in place. Further research should examine how to overcome issues resulting from the restrictions, such as loneliness, to improve health-related outcomes for people with dementia.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28324897.2025.2506566Covid-19health-outcomedementiasystematic reviewpandemic restriction
spellingShingle Amelia Davies
Aysegul Humeyra Kafadar
Katy A Jones
The impact of COVID-19 measures on health-related outcomes in people with dementia: A systematic review of reviews
Cogent Gerontology
Covid-19
health-outcome
dementia
systematic review
pandemic restriction
title The impact of COVID-19 measures on health-related outcomes in people with dementia: A systematic review of reviews
title_full The impact of COVID-19 measures on health-related outcomes in people with dementia: A systematic review of reviews
title_fullStr The impact of COVID-19 measures on health-related outcomes in people with dementia: A systematic review of reviews
title_full_unstemmed The impact of COVID-19 measures on health-related outcomes in people with dementia: A systematic review of reviews
title_short The impact of COVID-19 measures on health-related outcomes in people with dementia: A systematic review of reviews
title_sort impact of covid 19 measures on health related outcomes in people with dementia a systematic review of reviews
topic Covid-19
health-outcome
dementia
systematic review
pandemic restriction
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28324897.2025.2506566
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