SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neurorehabilitation
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1568336
Writing as Cognitive Rehabilitation in MCI & Dementia: A Systematic Review of Therapeutic Benefits and Applications
Provisionally accepted
- Cognitive Neurology, Dementia and Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Dementia, a worldwide health issue characterized by cognitive and functional deterioration, requires effective non-pharmacological interventions. Writing-based therapies, including Handwriting and typing, enhance memory, attention, and executive functions, providing cognitive, emotional, and social advantages. This systematic review examines the changing role of writing in dementia rehabilitation.In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (1991-2024) were examined. Data were extracted utilizing EndNote 21, concentrating on demographics, autism severity, and sexual behaviors. Methodological quality was evaluated employing modified Cochrane and Effective Public Health Practice Project instruments.The systematic review highlights writing-based interventions, such as journaling, poetry, Chinese calligraphy, and memory notebooks, as effective instruments for cognitive, emotional, and social rehabilitation in mild cognitive impairment and dementia. These techniques improve memory, identity, emotional control, and cognitive resilience, while cultural and multimodal approaches provide supplementary advantages.This review emphasizes writing as an accessible and culturally appropriate therapeutic approach for cognitive rehabilitation in dementia. Calligraphy activities combine memory, motor skills, and concentration, providing cost-effective tools to improve mental and emotional health while fostering cultural connection and engagement.
Keywords: Writing-based therapies, Cognitive rehabilitation, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), handwriting, Dementia
Received: 10 May 2025; Accepted: 28 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Hajikarim Hamedani, Rassa and Noroozian. 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: Maryam Noroozian, Cognitive Neurology, Dementia and Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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