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Mental Disorders, Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Among Older Adults

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A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Geriatric Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 21 February 2026 | Viewed by 3243

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Prof. Dr. Agustín Aibar Almazán

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Guest Editor

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain
Interests: exercise; older adults; cognitive decline; physical function; mental health; quality of life
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mental disorders, cognitive decline, and dementia represent critical public health challenges in the context of global aging. These problems profoundly affect the quality of life of older adults and their families, and must be comprehensively understood if effective solutions are to be developed. This Special Issue is dedicated to research on physical or cognitive interventions that aim to address mental disorders, cognitive decline, and dementia in older adults. It seeks to highlight effective multidisciplinary approaches that contribute to the prevention, management, and comprehensive care of these conditions from biological, physical, psychological, cognitive, and social perspectives. We welcome the submission of original research, systematic reviews, and any clinical studies that address mental disorders, cognitive decline, and dementia in older adults.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Epidemiologia.

Prof. Dr. Agustín Aibar Almazán
Guest Editor

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Keywords

mental disorders
cognitive decline
dementia
older adults
mental health
exercise
physical function

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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12 pages, 231 KB

Open AccessArticle

Symptoms of Emotional Disorders and Their Co-Occurrence with Adherence Levels in Individuals Aged 55 and Older with Chronic Diseases

by Anna Polak-Szabela, Irena Wrońska and Mariola Głowacka

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(18), 6415; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14186415 - 11 Sep 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Adherence to therapeutic recommendations is a key factor influencing treatment effectiveness, particularly in older adults with chronic diseases. Emotional disorders, such as depression and anxiety, may significantly affect adherence and overall health outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyze depressive symptoms and trait anxiety in individuals aged 55 years and older and to determine their association with adherence to therapeutic recommendations. Methods: The study included 2040 participants (1406 women and 634 men) aged 55 to 100 years (mean age: 65 years), all of whom had chronic diseases, most commonly cardiovascular and metabolic conditions. The sociodemographic variables analyzed were age, gender, and education level. Emotional functioning was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Therapeutic adherence, defined as the extent to which patients followed their treatment plan, was measured with the Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale (ACDS). Results: ACDS scores ranged from 0 to 28 points, with a mean of 23.84. The majority of participants demonstrated moderate adherence (1149 individuals; 56.3%), followed by high adherence (593 individuals; 29.1%), while low adherence was observed in 298 participants (14.6%). Age and education level were not significantly correlated with adherence (p > 0.05). However, BDI scores showed a weak but statistically significant negative correlation with adherence (r = −0.185; p < 0.05). Similarly, STAI scores demonstrated a weak but significant negative correlation with adherence (r = −0.203; p < 0.05). In addition, BDI and STAI results were moderately correlated with each other (r = 0.453; p < 0.05). No significant differences in adherence were observed between men and women. Conclusions: In this large cohort of over 2000 Polish adults aged 55 years and older with chronic diseases, higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms were consistently associated with poorer adherence, with the co-occurrence of both disorders further amplifying this effect. These findings provide confirmatory evidence from an underrepresented Central European population with multimorbidity and underscore the need for systematic mental health screening and adherence-focused interventions in older patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Disorders, Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Among Older Adults)

21 pages, 1124 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Dance-Based Aerobic Training on Functional Capacity and Risk of Falls in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

by Marcelina Sánchez-Alcalá, María del Carmen Carcelén-Fraile, Paulino Vico-Rodríguez, Marta Cano-Orihuela and María del Mar Carcelén-Fraile

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(16), 5900; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14165900 - 21 Aug 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 916

Abstract

Background: Older adults with mild cognitive impairment are at increased risk for physical decline and falls due to decreased strength, flexibility, balance, and gait. Dance-based aerobic training has emerged as a promising and enjoyable intervention to promote physical function and cognitive stimulation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week structured dance-based aerobic program, based on line dancing and Latin rhythms (e.g., salsa, merengue, and bachata), in improving functional capacity and reducing the risk of falls in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 92 participants aged ≥65 years diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (dance-based training, twice weekly for 12 weeks) or a control group (usual activity). Outcomes included muscle strength (grip dynamometry), flexibility (back scratch and chair sit-and-reach tests), gait speed (Timed Up and Go test), balance (Tinetti scale), and total falls risk score (Tinetti). Mixed ANOVA and Cohen’s d were used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the experimental group on all variables compared to the control group. Muscle strength (p < 0.001, d = 0.86), gait speed (p = 0.026, d = 0.48), and upper and lower extremity flexibility (d = 0.43–0.79) improved significantly. The balance and gait components of the Tinetti scale also increased (p = 0.007 and p = 0.048, respectively), as did the total Tinetti score (p = 0.002, d = 0.67), indicating a reduction in the risk of falls. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, under structured conditions, dance-based aerobic training may serve as a promising non-pharmacological strategy to support healthy aging in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, although further validation in larger cohorts is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Disorders, Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Among Older Adults)

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21 pages, 1573 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Effectiveness of Transcranial Stimulation on Cognitive Abilities of Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

by Juan Miguel Muñoz-Perete, Javier Cano-Sánchez, Yolanda Castellote-Caballero, Paulino Vico-Rodríguez, Marta Cano-Orihuela, Marcelina Sánchez-Alcalá and María del Carmen Carcelén-Fraile

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(7), 2472; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072472 - 4 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1567

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Aging leads to cognitive decline that may progress to dementia. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a strategy to improve cognitive functions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study reviews the effectiveness of tDCS in these populations. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Randomized controlled trials obtained from PubMed, Scopus, Cinahl, and Web of Science were included. Studies with tDCS intervention in older adults with MCI were selected, excluding those without a control group or that did not measure relevant cognitive variables. Methodological quality was analyzed with the PEDro scale and a meta-analysis was applied with random-effects models. Results: A total of 27 studies were included in this review, of which 13 were part of the meta-analysis. tDCS showed significant improvements in global cognitive function (p < 0.001) and selective attention (p = 0.044), but not in mental flexibility or visual attention. Positive effects on quality of life and depressive symptoms were also reported in some studies. Conclusions: tDCS may improve cognitive functions in older adults with MCI, but inconsistencies persist in its magnitude and duration. It is recommended to standardize protocols and conduct studies with greater methodological rigor and long-term follow-up. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Disorders, Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Among Older Adults)

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