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A rapid scoping review on operationalizing cognitive and social activities in research on dementia risk reduction
Jeroen Bruinsma, Ruud Roodbeen, Giselle Geertruide Antonia Menting, Kay Deckers, Stevie Hendriks, Rik Crutzen. Aging & Mental Health, 2025-06-08
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Across 58 studies, 38 had an observational design and predominantly used questionnaires to measure cognitive and social activities. A wide variety of items and themes were observed, including arts and crafts, social groups, exercise, games, outings, household tasks, education, music, multimedia use, reading, socializing, work or volunteering, and writing. There were considerable variations in item content, response scales, recall periods, and scoring methods. The 20 studies that reported on preventive interventions mainly focused on psychoeducation and (computerized) cognitive training, which do not fully align with activities measured in questionnaires. Many researchers measure and promote cognitive and social activities but do this differently, leading to fragmented insights into which activities protect against dementia. Clarifying the concept and relevant aspects to measure would support the development of better measurements and interventions.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Bruinsma, J., Roodbeen, R., Menting, G. G. A., Deckers, K., Hendriks, S., & Crutzen, R. (2025). A rapid scoping review on operationalizing cognitive and social activities in research on dementia risk reduction. Aging & Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2025.2515519
Vancouver
Bruinsma J, Roodbeen R, Menting GGA, Deckers K, Hendriks S, Crutzen R. A rapid scoping review on operationalizing cognitive and social activities in research on dementia risk reduction. Aging & Mental Health. 2025. doi:10.1080/13607863.2025.2515519. PMID: 40483698.
BibTeX
@article{bruinsma2025-40483698,
author = {Bruinsma, Jeroen and Roodbeen, Ruud and Menting, Giselle Geertruide Antonia and Deckers, Kay and Hendriks, Stevie and Crutzen, Rik},
title = {{A rapid scoping review on operationalizing cognitive and social activities in research on dementia risk reduction}},
journal = {Aging \& Mental Health},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1080/13607863.2025.2515519},
pmid = {40483698},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2025.2515519}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Across 58 studies, 38 had an observational design and predominantly used questionnaires to measure cognitive and social activities.
- A wide variety of items and themes were observed, including arts and crafts, social groups, exercise, games, outings, household tasks, education, music, multimedia use, reading, socializing, work or volunteering, and writing.
- There were considerable variations in item content, response scales, recall periods, and scoring methods.
- The 20 studies that reported on preventive interventions mainly focused on psychoeducation and (computerized) cognitive training, which do not fully align with activities measured in questionnaires.
- Many researchers measure and promote cognitive and social activities but do this differently, leading to fragmented insights into which activities protect against dementia.
Why it matters
This scoping review found wide variation in how cognitive and social activities are measured across studies, leading to fragmented insights into which activities protect against dementia. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 37/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Aging & Mental Health) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Aging & Mental Health: journal h-index 153 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Rik Crutzen: h-index 47 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Maastricht University: institution h-index 876 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40483698) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 37 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2025.2515519
- PubMed: 40483698
- Original source →
- Free full text: Aging & Mental Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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