SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Aging
Sec. Interventions in Aging
This article is part of the Research TopicExploring the Relationship Between Psychiatric Disorders and AgingView all 3 articles
Non-pharmacological mental health interventions for older adults in México: A systematic review
Provisionally accepted
María Fernanda Zapata-de la Rosa1
Harvey Apolonio-Cortés1
Rodrigo Ramirez-Rodriguez2
Rafael Fernández-Demeneghi3
Angel Puig-Lagunes1*- 1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Veracruzana, Minatitlán, Mexico
- 2Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
- 3Institute for Research on Eating Behavior and Nutrition, University of Guadalajara,, Guzmán, Mexico
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Introduction: The accelerated aging of the Mexican population presents an urgent public health challenge, particularly regarding geriatric mental health. While non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) offer a promising therapeutic avenue, national evidence remains fragmented. This systematic review critically evaluates the efficacy of NPIs implemented in Mexico to improve mental health outcomes among adults aged 60 and older. Method: Adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251033051), we conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, and the Virtual Health Library (2010–2025). We included randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies, assessing risk of bias via Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Results: Seven studies (N=267; mean age 71.9 ± 7.3) met the eligibility criteria. Synthesis of findings revealed distinct efficacy patterns: physical exercise interventions yielded the most robust outcomes, demonstrating large effect sizes for reducing depressive symptoms (ηp² = .35) and enhancing resilience (ηp² = .46). In contrast, cognitive and reminiscence-based therapies proved highly effective for improving self-esteem (d=-.89) but showed inconsistent results for mood regulation. Discussion and Conclusion: Current evidence confirms that NPIs—specifically structured physical activity— are potent and scalable tools for promoting geriatric mental health in Mexico. However, the existing literature is limited by heterogeneity and a lack of geographic coverage. To bridge the gap between research and practice, it is imperative that policymakers transition from isolated pilot interventions to the integration of standardized, evidence-based NPIs protocols within the national geriatric care system.
Keywords: Aged, Complementary Therapies, Geriatric Psychiatry, Health Promotion, Mental Health
Received: 23 Oct 2025; Accepted: 26 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Zapata-de la Rosa, Apolonio-Cortés, Ramirez-Rodriguez, Fernández-Demeneghi and Puig-Lagunes. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Angel Puig-Lagunes
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