Abstract

Dementia is a primary world health concern, and early onset types impose an enormous burden on Health institutions and carers. This systematic review, however, focuses on assessing the role of pharmacists in the detection and treatment of early-onset dementia, underlining their significant position that enables medication management as well as enhances efficiency towards earlier detection. Using a PRISMA-guided comprehensive search across databases like PubMed and MEDLINE, eleven studies representing the pharmacist’s ability to manage medication in deprescribing to minimize dementia risks were identified. Nevertheless, the results show significant inconsistencies in pharmacists’ training and education concerning dementia coupled with difficulties related to early-onset dementia diagnosis along with polypharmacy management. Notwithstanding these obstacles, pharmacists can substantially improve patient outcomes by optimizing medication management and patient education. For this potential to be fully realized, specific training programs for pharmacists are needed; there must also be clear guidelines of what roles they play in dementia care and more research required on the subject. The present study calls for structured training of pharmacists, policy revisions to include the formal participation of pharmacists in dementia management teams, and additional research on competent practices that should be employed when providing care services to people with dementia.

Introduction

Dementia, a syndrome with multiple cognitive impairments that include memory loss, reasoning difficulties, and behavioral changes, represents a significant global health challenge. Dementia involves different subtypes, such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. It reduces the value of life for those diagnosed and places tremendous demands on caregivers and worldwide healthcare systems (Arvanitakis et al., 2019). The primary caregiver is required to provide constant supervision on basic activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating, while also understanding the needs and preferences of dementia patients. Moreover, Yates et al. (2021) note that the increasing prevalence of dementia strains healthcare systems as they need to allocate resources to address the growing demand for specialized dementia care, including medical professionals, facilities, and support services. This creates frustration for both the caregiver and the person with dementia.

Approximately 50 million people worldwide have dementia, and projections are showing a steady increase to close to half this number by the year 2050 (Tran, 2022) as the prevalence is also bound to increase considerably, with more and more people living their lives while demented in coming decades. NHS statistics show that 90 % of people who have dementia are older than sixty-five years and take multiple drugs (NHS,2018). Consequently, they are at higher risk of developing dementia, which could reduce the effectiveness of some particular therapies or have a negative outcome.

Pharmacology issues in dementia care are a vital element in ensuring effective treatment for patients diagnosed with cognitive impairment. A key issue, however, concerns the use of inappropriate medications that increase dementia risks, including those with high anticholinergic burden (Grossi et al., 2019). When anticholinergic obstruction of brain acetylcholine receptors occurs, cognitive impairment and long-term memory deficit can follow suit; these drugs are among the risks because individuals who have dementia tend to take such medications. Besides the anticholinergic burden relief, a holistic approach to dementia care includes non-pharmacological interventions and personalized treatment strategies. Physical exercise, cognition training, behavioral therapies, and occupation therapy are some of the interventions that may be undertaken (Thijssen et al., 2021). Thus, integrated dementia care should incorporate person-centered support and treatment networks.

Various entities advocate for the earlier presentation of dementia. The Dementia Friends is a social movement that receives backing from the Alzheimer’s Society in the U.K. and its counterparts internationally (Shannon et al., 2019). Through knowledge and education sharing, Dementia Friends aims to reduce the social stigma linked with a demented person and demystify public consciousness of that illness by promoting greater acceptance for those afflicted as it works towards creating a supportive society.

Dealing with dementia patients requires the pharmacists (Shoji et al., 2023). By recognizing symptoms and extending their role as prescribers, they assist in the early detection of dementia by either prescribing proper medications or deprescribing, which is a process that means