The Effects of Cognitive-Based Interventions in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Cognitive-based intervention is divided into three types: Cognitive Stimulation (CS), Cognitive Training (CT), and Cognitive Rehabilitation (CR). This study was conducted to identify systematically the effects of cognitive-based interventions in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) applied to older adults in the following three groups: cognitively healthy, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia.

METHODS

This search was carried out using the Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Korea databases. The effectiveness of the intervention was verified using the CMA 2.0 program.

RESULTS

A total of 54 RCTs were included in systematic reviews and 38 studies were analyzed by meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that cognitive-based interventions were effective in improving the cognitive function (SMD=0.39, 95% CI=0.32-0.44) of older adults. The subgroup analysis of cognitive function revealed that CT was the most effective in the cognitively healthy (SMD=0.40, 95% CI=0.33-0.46) and the MCI (SMD=0.45, 95% CI=0.27-0.63) groups, and CS was the most effective in the dementia group (SMD=0.57, 95% CI=0.43-0.70).

CONCLUSION

In order to improve the cognitive function of older adults in each group, the most effective intervention type needs to be considered first. Evidence on the appropriate type of Cognitive-based intervention will be helpful in nursing practice.