Introduction: Dementia is an increasingly prevalent neurodegenerative disease that significantly affect individuals' quality of life and presents a major challenge for healthcare systems. This diploma work focuses on the role of nursing care in enhancing cognitive functions in people with dementia, highlighting the importance of non-pharmacological interventions according to the stage of disease progression. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma work was to determine, through a literature review, which nursing interventions are most effective in improving or maintaining cognitive abilities in individuals with dementia. Methods: A descriptive research method was used, with a systematic review of professional and scientific literature from the period between 2014 and 2025. In the search for Slovenian and English literature, we used portals of the Digital Library of the University of Ljubljana (DiKUL) and the Digital Library of Slovenia (dLib.si), as well as bibliographic databases such as PubMed, SpringerLink, EBSCO, MEDLINE and the National Institute of public health (NIJZ). Google and Google Scholar were also utilized. Results: The results showed that interventions such as music therapy, working memory training, cognitive stimulation, digital interventions and reminiscence therapy are effective in improving memory, attention, verbal expression and other cognitive functions. It was found that in milder forms of dementia, strategies like adaptive memory training are effective, while in advanced stages, interventions focusing on reality orientation, reminiscence and social interaction are more appropriate. Discussion and conclusion: Nursing interventions help slow cognitive decline and improve the quality of life in people with dementia. They are most effective when applied regularly, professionally guided and tailored to the individual’s needs. Nurses play a key role through assessment, planning, and involving. Family members can significantly influence the success of care. For long-term effectiveness, it is importanta to integrate non-pharmacological approaches into nursing care standards, develop additional educational programs, and ensure broader accessibility of support services. Considering the rapid ageing of the population and current findings, it will be necessary in the future to develop innovative approaches that include digital technologies, community-based programs and interdisciplinary collaboration, as these provide more sustainable support for patients and relieve the burden of family caregivers.
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