Global Research Trends on Non-Pharmacologic Interventions for Dementia in Long-Term Care Settings: A Bibliometric Analysis

Objective: To analyze global research on non-pharmacologic interventions for dementia in long-term care settings using bibliometric methods and to identify research hotspots, intellectual structures, and emerging thematic trends. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Scopus database on May 29, 2025. A total of 424 eligible publications from 1990 to 2024 were included. VOSviewer (v1.6.20) was used to construct co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence maps, and institutional collaboration visualizations. Microsoft Excel 2019 was employed to visualize annual publication trends and citation metrics. Results: The number of publications related to NPIs for dementia in LTC has steadily increased over the past three decades. The most frequently occurring keywords included “music therapy,” “cognitive behavioral therapy,” and “long-term care.” Four thematic clusters emerged: psychological interventions, residential care environments, methodological design, and long-term care. The United States led in publication output, while the United Kingdom had the highest citation impact and H-index. Taiwan and the Netherlands also demonstrated high citation averages, indicating influential research. Leading journals included Aging and Mental Health and the Journal of Music Therapy , while top contributing institutions were the National Institute on Aging and the National Institutes of Health. Conclusion: Research on non-pharmacologic dementia interventions in LTC settings is gaining global momentum. Key areas of focus include behavioral therapies, sensory stimulation, and institutional care practices. However, gaps remain in culturally sensitive interventions and contributions from underrepresented regions. Future studies should prioritize equitable representation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scalable models of care to enhance the real-world applicability of non-pharmacologic dementia strategies.