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Cognitive Stimulation and Training in People with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease: A Scoping Review
Martins R, Carvalho N, Loureiro R, Loureiro JB.. Preprints.org, 2026-08-10
Topic: Brain imaging, connectivity and assessment
Of 352 records identified, five studies involving 245 participants were included. Interventions comprised virtual-reality cognitive stimulation, conventional cognitive training, group reminiscence therapy, a multicomponent music–reminiscence–reality-orientation intervention, and computerized cognitive training. Technology-based interventions reported improvements in global cognition or selected memory, language, attention, and executive outcomes. Conventional cognitive training improved initiative and temporarily stabilized memory. Reminiscence-based interventions primarily improved depressive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Where longer follow-up was available, benefits diminished over time. The mapped evidence suggests that structured cognitive stimulation and training may produce short-term, outcome-specific benefits in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. However, the small number of heterogeneous studies, variable outcome measures, and limited long-term evidence preclude firm conclusions regarding comparative effectiveness. More rigorous and adequately powered studies are needed.
Key findings
- Of 352 records identified, five studies involving 245 participants were included.
- Interventions comprised virtual-reality cognitive stimulation, conventional cognitive training, group reminiscence therapy, a multicomponent music–reminiscence–reality-orientation intervention, and computerized cognitive training.
- Technology-based interventions reported improvements in global cognition or selected memory, language, attention, and executive outcomes.
- Conventional cognitive training improved initiative and temporarily stabilized memory.
- Reminiscence-based interventions primarily improved depressive and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Study details
- Participants245
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 16/100
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. It scored 29 on the same rubric, but non-peer-reviewed sources are capped at 16, so it shows as 16. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 18 of the 62 points we could judge it on, which is 29 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 2 / 10 | Tier 4 — not a peer-reviewed journal (Preprints.org) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Not a journal article, so the journal's record does not count |
| 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 | 4 / 10 | Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. Hosted on a preprint server. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 245 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 18 / 62 | Scored on 12 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 18 of the 62 points we could judge it on is 29 out of 100. |
| Total | 29 / 100 | Capped to 16 because this is not a peer-reviewed article. |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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.
APA 7th
Martins, R., Carvalho, N., Loureiro, R., & Loureiro, J. B. (2026). Cognitive Stimulation and Training in People with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease: A Scoping Review. Preprints.org. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202608.0641.v1
Vancouver
Martins R, Carvalho N, Loureiro R, Loureiro JB. Cognitive Stimulation and Training in People with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease: A Scoping Review. Preprints.org. 2026. doi:10.20944/preprints202608.0641.v1.
BibTeX
@article{martins2026-deb26375,
author = {Martins, R. and Carvalho, N. and Loureiro, R. and Loureiro, J. B.},
title = {{Cognitive Stimulation and Training in People with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease: A Scoping Review}},
journal = {Preprints.org},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.20944/preprints202608.0641.v1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202608.0641.v1}
}
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