Computer-based cognitive interventions for people living with dementia: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To estimate the efficacy of computer-based cognitive interventions for improving cognition in people with dementia (PWD).

Method: Online literature databases were searched for relevant studies. Interventions were categorised as follows: cognitive recreation, cognitive rehabilitation, cognitive stimulation or cognitive training. A systematic review, quality assessment and meta-analyses were conducted.

Results: Twelve studies were identified. Their methodological quality was acceptable according to Downs & Black criteria, the weakest methodological area being the external validity. The meta-analyses indicated cognitive interventions lead to beneficial effects on cognition in PWD (SMD −0.69; 95% CI = −1.02 to −0.37; P < 0.0001; I² = 29%), depression (SMD 0.47; 95% CI = 0.16 to 0.78; p = 0.003; I² = 0%) and anxiety (SMD 0.55; 95% CI = 0.07 to 1.04; P < 0.03; I² = 42%). They benefited significantly more from the computer-based cognitive interventions than from the non-computer-based interventions in cognition (SMD 0.48; 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.87; P = 0.02; I² = 2%).

Conclusion: Computer-based cognitive interventions have moderate effects in cognition, and anxiety and small effects in depression in PWD. No significant effects were found on activities of daily living. They led to superior results compared to non-computer-based interventions in cognition. Further research is needed on cognitive recreation and cognitive stimulation. There is also a need for longer-term follow-up to examine the potential retention of treatment effects, and for the design of specific outcome measures.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognitive rehabilitation
• cognitive stimulation
• dementia
• Alzheimer disease
• computer

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Corrigendum

Acknowledgments

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: J. Antonio García Casal would like to acknowledge INTERDEM Academy and ANPIR for funding his research stay at UCL. Andrea Loizeau thanks the Swiss-European Mobility Programme for funding her research stay at UCL. JAGC, the corresponding author, had full access to all the data in the study and has final responsibility in the decision to submit it for publication.

Disclosure of interests

The authors have no competing interests. This review is part of PRIDE (Promoting independence in Dementia) a programme funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to research dementia care in the UK.

Additional information

Funding

Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/L001802/1].