Liliana Mendes

Portugal’s demographic ageing calls for effective strategies to address mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, fragmented evidence on digital tools limits their clinical application. This review aimed to map the landscape of validated digital cognitive rehabilitation platforms in Portugal for older adults with MCI and AD and to analyze their effectiveness, usability, and implementation barriers. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, seven studies published between 2015 and 2025 were identified from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, complemented by manual searches and platform website analysis. Methodological quality, assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools, ranged from 69% to 100%. The included studies evaluated platforms such as the Systemic Lisbon Battery (SLB), Digi&Mind, NeuroVRehab.PT, and the Fit4Alz project. Findings indicate improvements in global cognition, executive functioning, and attention. Multimodal interventions combining digital cognitive training and physical exercise produced more consistent cognitive benefits than isolated approaches. Despite initially low digital literacy among older adults, high adherence and motivation were reported, supported by gamification, user-centred design, and cultural adaptation. Although Portuguese digital platforms show strong potential for cognitive rehabilitation, the evidence base is constrained by methodological heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and short intervention durations. Future research should prioritize long-term follow-up and remote monitoring through telerehabilitation.

Background: Cognitive decline significantly affects the functional and intrinsic capacities of older adults, highlighting the need for effective interventions. Evidence suggests that mentally stimulating activities, particularly those supported by digital technologies, can promote cognitive health and quality of life in aging populations. Objective: This pilot trial examined the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of GameAAL , a multidomain Cognitive Training programme delivered via tablet and television, in older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia. Methods: The intervention targeted key cognitive domains including attention, reaction time, memory, language, and executive functioning. Forty-one older adults (aged 60–93), living in nursing homes, participated in a 6-month programme. The tablet intervention group ( n = 10) completed 30 sessions using a tablet device, while the TV intervention group ( n = 31) completed nine sessions using a TV interface. All participants engaged with six serious games designed around cognitive tasks related to activities of daily living. Results: Pre- and post-intervention assessments included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The Tablet group showed a trend towards improved MoCA scores following the intervention, whereas the TV group did not show significant changes. At the post-intervention, the Tablet group demonstrated significantly better cognitive performance compared to the TV group ( p = 0.044). No significant between-group differences were observed in HADS scores. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the GameAAL Cognitive Training programme may help improve cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairment by combining computer-based exercises with ecologically valid tasks.

Introduction. Sexuality plays a pivotal role in human life, shaping individuals' perceptions and practices, known as sexual self-esteem, which significantly influences attitudes and behaviours. Aim. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and reliability of the Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory (SSEI) in its abbreviated form for the Portuguese population, considering five distinct aspects: Skill/Experience, Attractiveness, Control, Moral Judgment, and Adaptiveness. Method. A cross-sectional, quantitative, comparative, and correlational study with a quasi-experimental design was conducted. A total of 901 individuals aged 18 to 39 years (M = 25.52, SD = 6.27), predominantly female (67.8%), participated in the study. The factor structure was analysed via exploratory factor analysis, and instrument reliability was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha. Results. The exploratory factor analysis yielded 24 items organized into four factors - Emotional Readiness, Competence and Experience, Attractiveness, and Adaptiveness - explaining 51.99% of the total variance. All factors exhibited good internal consistency. Conclusion. Thus, the inventory demonstrated adequate factor structure and reliability and is deemed suitable for assessing self-perceptions regarding sexuality across four dimensions in a Portuguese sample.

The advent of social media has fundamentally transformed how people interact, bridging the divide between passive digital consumption and active engagement. Objective. This study aims to validate the Passive and Active Use Measure (PAUM) for Facebook and Instagram in a Portuguese sample, exploring distinct interaction modes encompassing Active Social, Active Non-social, Active, and Passive. Methods. Two descriptive, cross-sectional, and quantitative studies were conducted, involving a total of 606 participants (N=198 for study 1, N=408 for study 2), spanning ages 17 to 67. Results. The factor structure of both scales was analyzed, as well as their convergent and discriminant validity and reliability. Both scales-PAUM-Facebook (study 1) and PAUM-Instagram (study 2)-demonstrated robust factorial structures, underscored by sound validity and reliability indicators. Comprising ten and seven items, respectively, these scales are organized into two dimensions: Active and Passive. Conclusion. This study establishes that the PAUM instruments possess strong psychometric properties, rendering them valuable tools for evaluating Facebook and Instagram usage patterns in Portuguese populations, with broader applicability in future research within the field of psychology.

Corrigendum: A conceptual view of cognitive intervention in older adults with and without cognitive decline—a systemic review

The Interdisciplinary Method of Musical Literacy, Education and Artistic Awareness (MILMESA) is developed and applied essentially in higher education (artistic, cultural and teacher training courses), promoting effective endogenous (interarts) and exogenous interconnection (artistic and other non-artistic areas) of an inter and pluridisciplinary matrix, as well as assuming itself as a privileged vehicle of relationship and extension to the community in the frame of the making of artistic-cultural and pedagogical-didactic events in the European, Luso-Brazilian, Luso-African and Hispanic American territories. It was created, tested and evaluated in five consecutive quadrennia (2002–2023), being regularly adapted, adapted and added to according to the observed realities, evolving into the deepening of new concepts and models of intervention in these domains (e.g., Expressive and Proximal Didactics). Using the ethnographic method and the case study, and having the source of data collection as the document analysis of written and iconographic or visual sources (n = 1386) and participant observation, this study aimed to describe and analyse the application and evolution of MILMESA in terms of education and extension to the community. It was concluded that there was a need to promote, with greater regularity and scope, greater technological interaction via digital platforms and social networks, within the framework of the participation of external specialists (e-DEP) and the very experience of MILMESA’s experiences and initiatives, giving it a more meaningful and participatory range.

Transgender individuals face discrimination and exclusion in various areas of society, including sports. Notably, intercollegiate athletics suffer criticism for their lack of inclusivity towards transgender athletes. Despite the increasing visibility of transgender individuals and ongoing efforts towards greater inclusivity, there is a significant lack of research on their social integration within college sports. This scoping review aimed to explore the then-current state of research on the social integration of transgender individuals in intercollegiate athletics, identify gaps in the literature, and suggest areas for further investigation. The study examined articles published between 2013 and 2023, using databases such as PubMed, ERIC, and EBSCO Essentials, as well as relevant citations from selected articles. The inclusion criteria for articles were their focus on the social integration of transgender individuals in sports events, publication in English, and relevance to the research question. A standardized technique based on the PRISMA flow diagram 2020 was used to locate, assess, and extract information from eligible research. The results of the study are expected to inform policy and strategy in transgender participation in college sports and promote greater inclusivity for transgender individuals in sports institutions and groups.

The Interdisciplinary Method of Musical Literacy, Education and Artistic Awareness (MILMESA) is developed and applied essentially in higher education (artistic, cultural and teacher training courses), promoting effective endogenous (interarts) and exogenous interconnection (artistic and other non-artistic areas) of an inter and pluridisciplinary matrix, as well as assuming itself as a privileged vehicle of relationship and extension to the community in the frame of the making of artistic-cultural and pedagogical-didactic events in the European, Luso-Brazilian, Luso-African and Hispanic American territories. It was created, tested and evaluated in five consecutive quadrennia (2002–2023), being regularly adapted, adapted and added according to the observed realities, evolving into the deepening of new concepts and models of intervention in these domains (e.g., Expressive and Proximal Didactics). Using the Ethnographic Method and the Case Study, and having the source of data collection as Document Analysis of written and iconographic or visual sources (n = 1386) and Participant Observation, this study aimed to describe and analyse the application and evolution of MILMESA in terms of education and extension to the community. It was concluded that there was a need to promote, with greater regularity and scope, greater technological interaction via digital platforms and social networks, within the framework of the participation of external specialists (e-DEP) and the very experience of MILMESA’s experiences and initiatives, giving it a more meaningful and participatory range.

The rise in suicide death rates has become a major public health concern, which has led to increased addiction to internet and social media platforms. Despite the limited research available on the relationship between suicidal ideation and addiction to social media such as Instagram and TikTok, this study aims to examine this connection. The study design is cross-sectional, quantitative, comparative, and correlational, with a quasi-experimental approach. The sample includes 315 young adults aged 20 to 30 who were surveyed through the administration of the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ) and the Social Media Disorder Scale-Short Form (SMDS-SF) surveys. The results showed differences in addiction levels based on the type of social media, specifically between TikTok and other social media platforms. The study found that female participants who engage in physical activity (PA) four times a week had lower levels of suicidal ideation than those who did not; there were no differences compared to male participants. This suggests that PA may be a potential strategy for preventing and reducing suicide-related phenomena. The results also indicate that addiction to social media was a statistically significant predictor of suicidal ideation, after controlling for gender and PA.

Background: Dementia is the one of the most common and prominent disease in the elderly person that results in the Cognitive interventions. In this study, we aim to conceptualize the cognitive intervention for older adults with and without cognitive dysfunction and to clarify the heterogeneity existing in this literature field by determining the main variables implicated.Methods: We conducted a study analysis using previous literature highlighting the significant data reporting empirical results from cognitive intervention for healthy older adults and other seniors with different types of dementia. Each paper was reviewed in terms of compensatory cognitive training, cognitive remediation, enrichment, cognitive activation, brain training, cognitive stimulation, cognitive training, and cognitive rehabilitation. The research analysis was performed following rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria with the purpose of collecting relevant answers to our research questions.Results: We included a total of 168 studies in our review. Our findings indicated heterogeneity regarding methods, concepts, and procedures. Additionally, the values were integrated using different information existing in this field.Conclusion: In conclusion, we highlighted that this is the first review that clarify the discrepancy of various existing definitions, methods, and procedures, as well as the overlapping information in the cognitive interventions.