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The Effect of Cognitive Intervention on Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Abstract

Cognitive intervention includes cognitive stimulation, cognitive training, and cognitive rehabilitation. This systematic review was performed to re-assess the efficacy of cognitive intervention for the patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Twenty studies (2012 participants) were eventually included. For global cognitive function, the combined mean difference (MD) in eight studies was 1.67 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.45, 2.89, p = 0.007; Q = 33.28, df = 8, p < 0.0001, τ2 = 2.17, I2 = 76%) for the short term. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of six RCTs was 1.61 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.65, 2.56, p = 0.0009; Q = 127.66, df = 6, p < 0.00001, τ2 = 1.56, I2 = 95%) for the medium term. The pooled SMD of seven studies was 0.79 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.33, 1.25, p = 0.0008; Q = 35.10, df = 7, p < 0.0001, τ2 = 0.33, I2 = 80%) for the long term. For depression, the pooled SMD of two trials was -0.48 (95% Confidence Interval: -0.71, -0.24; p < 0.0001, I2 = 4%) for the short term. Cognitive training may show obvious improvements in global cognitive function whether after short, medium, or long-term interventions and in depression after short term intervention. However, the positive effect of the intervention on general cognitive function or depression did not seem to persist after intervention ended. There is still a lack of reliable and consistent conclusions relevant to the effect of cognitive stimulation and cognitive rehabilitation on observed outcomes, cognitive training for memory or other non-cognitive outcomes. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019121768.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Yun-Yun Wang, Liang Yang, Jing Zhang, Xian-Tao Zeng & Ying-Hui Jin

  2. Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Yun-Yun Wang, Xian-Tao Zeng & Ying-Hui Jin

  3. Medical Department of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Liang Yang

  4. First Clinical College of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Jing Zhang

  5. Department of General Surgery, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, China

    Yang Wang

  6. Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, China

    Yang Wang

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Wang, YY., Yang, L., Zhang, J. et al. The Effect of Cognitive Intervention on Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neuropsychol Rev 32, 247–273 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-021-09486-4

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