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Computer-based cognitive interventions for people living with dementia: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
García-Casal JA, Loizeau A, Csipke E, Franco-Martín M, Perea-Bartolomé MV, Orrell M.. Aging & mental health, 2016-01-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
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 = 1.02-0.37; P Conclusion Computer-based cognitive interventions have moderate effects in cognition and [corrected] 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 [corrected] follow-up to examine the potential retention of treatment effects, and for the design of specific outcome measures.
Key findings
- No significant effects were found on activities of daily living.
- They led to superior results compared to non-computer-based interventions in cognition.
Why it matters
This review of 12 studies found that computer-based cognitive interventions had moderate effects on cognition and anxiety and small effects on depression in people with dementia, but no significant effect on activities of daily living. It is about managing symptoms, not curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people 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 | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 163 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 14.8 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 35 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Martin William Orrell: h-index 88 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 26806365) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1132677
- PubMed: 26806365
- Original source →
- Free full text: Gredos (University of Salamanca) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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
García-Casal, J. A., Loizeau, A., Csipke, E., Franco-Martín, M., Perea-Bartolomé, M. V., & Orrell, M. (2017). Computer-based cognitive interventions for people living with dementia: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Aging & mental health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1132677
Vancouver
García-Casal JA, Loizeau A, Csipke E, Franco-Martín M, Perea-Bartolomé MV, Orrell M. Computer-based cognitive interventions for people living with dementia: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Aging & mental health. 2017. doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1132677. PMID: 26806365.
BibTeX
@article{garciacasal2017-26806365,
author = {García-Casal, J. A. and Loizeau, A. and Csipke, E. and Franco-Martín, M. and Perea-Bartolomé, M. V. and Orrell, M.},
title = {{Computer-based cognitive interventions for people living with dementia: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis}},
journal = {Aging \& mental health},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1080/13607863.2015.1132677},
pmid = {26806365},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1132677}
}
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