 The study aims to map current research on designing embodied conversational agents, ECAs, for patients with dementia, identify existing research trends and gaps, and highlight challenges in synchronizing and harmonizing knowledge, efforts, and challenges in the dementia care field through a user-centered design approach. The review questions were, 1. What research frameworks are used to study the interaction between patients with dementia and ECAs? 2. What are the findings? And, 3. What are the barriers reported in these studies? The search process identified seven studies that were included in a qualitative synthesis. The main themes and sub-themes identified were, 1. Research frameworks used to gather users' perspectives on ECAs, 2. Insights shared by the studies as well as the value of user involvement in the development phases and the challenge of matching system functionalities with users' needs, and, 3. Methodological and technical problems faced by each study team. The study concludes that more sophisticated study designs and proofs of efficacy of the approach are required to enable strict collaboration between interdisciplinary research networks, medical scientists, technology developers, patients, and their formal and informal caregivers in the field of technologies for older adults. This article was authored by Marguerita Rampione, Verasterra, Alisa Felicci, and others.