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Review
. 2024 Mar 18;14(3):285.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030285.

Sensory Integration: A Novel Approach for Healthy Ageing and Dementia Management

Ongart Maneemai  1 , Maira Cristina Cujilan Alvarado  2 , Lina Graciela Calderon Intriago  2 , Alicia Jeanette Donoso Triviño  2 , Joicy Anabel Franco Coffré  2 , Domenico Pratico  3 , Kristof Schwartz  4 , Tadele Tesfaye  5 , Takao Yamasaki  6   7
Affiliations
Review

Sensory Integration: A Novel Approach for Healthy Ageing and Dementia Management

Ongart Maneemai et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Sensory processing is a fundamental aspect of the nervous system that plays a pivotal role in the cognitive decline observed in older individuals with dementia. The "sensory diet", derived from sensory integration theory, may provide a tailored approach to modulating sensory experiences and triggering neuroplastic changes in the brain in individuals with dementia. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the current knowledge regarding the sensory diet and its potential application to dementia. This review encompassed an extensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, covering articles published from 2010 to 2023. Keywords such as "sensory integration", "sensory modulation", "healthy aging", and "dementia" were utilized to identify relevant studies. The types of materials retrieved included peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, ensuring a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape. This article offers a comprehensive exploration of the effectiveness of sensory diets such as tactile stimulation, auditory therapies, and visual interventions, which have demonstrated noteworthy efficacy in addressing challenges linked to aging and dementia. Research findings consistently report positive outcomes, such as improved cognitive function, elevated emotional well-being, and enhanced overall quality of life in older individuals. Furthermore, we found that the integration of sensory diets with the metaverse, augmented reality, and virtual reality opens up personalized experiences, fostering cognitive stimulation and emotional well-being for individuals during aging. Therefore, we conclude that customized sensory diets, based on interdisciplinary cooperation and leveraging technological advancements, are effective in optimizing sensory processing and improve the overall well-being of older individuals contending with sensory modulation challenges and dementia.

Keywords: dementia; healthy aging; neuromodulation; sensory integration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation reflecting health challenges during aging and the tailored therapeutic solutions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation reflecting neuroplasticity changes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic representation of different sensory activities for healthy patients and the well-being of dementia patients.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic representation of technological solutions for different aging communities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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