Home › Research › Prevention trials
Effectiveness of a 52-week multidomain intervention to maintain cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial
Ha Yeong Choi, Yeo Jin Kim, Dae‐Soon Son, Moo Eob Ahn, Sang Gyu Lee. Scientific Reports, 2025-11-20
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) increases the risk of dementia. Reducing modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors can help prevent cognitive decline in patients with MCI. We examined whether a multidomain intervention using a mobile application can prevent cognitive decline in patients with MCI. The trial is designed in accordance with the CONSORT Statement. We conducted an assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial. Patients with MCI, aged over 60 years and presenting with at least one modifiable risk factor for dementia, were recruited from three dementia centers in Gangwon-do, Korea, and outpatient clinics at Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group in a 1:1 ratio. Each participant received a 52-week intervention. The intervention group used a mobile application to manage their diet and physical activity at least three times per week, while the control group received general dietary and physical activity recommendations twice a year. The primary outcome was the change in cognitive function measured based on the mini-mental state examination in the Korean version of the CERAD assessment packet (MMSE-KC) score. Between October 2020 and September 2021, 84 people were screened, and 80 participants were randomly assigned to either the control or intervention group (intervention group = 42, control group = 38). Participants in both groups underwent a post-baseline assessment and their data were included in the analysis. We found a positive effect of the multidomain intervention using a mobile application on the change in cognitive function score in the intervention group compared to the control group at the 52-week follow-up. The MMSE-KC (F = 10.6, p < .001) and modified Boston Naming test (F = 8.3, p < .01) scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. The results suggest that a multidomain mobile application intervention could help improve cognition in patients with MCI.The study protocol was prospectively registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS, Republic of Korea; KCT0008315) on March 16, 2023. The full trial details can be accessed at https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?seq=22920 .
Key findings
- We found a positive effect of the multidomain intervention using a mobile application on the change in cognitive function score in the intervention group compared to the control group at the 52-week follow-up.
- The MMSE-KC (F = 10.6, p < .001) and modified Boston Naming test (F = 8.3, p < .01) scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group.
- The results suggest that a multidomain mobile application intervention could help improve cognition in patients with MCI.The study protocol was prospectively registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS, Republic of Korea; KCT0008315) on March 16, 2023.
Why it matters
In this 52-week trial of 80 people with mild cognitive impairment, those who used a mobile app to manage diet and physical activity had higher cognitive scores at follow-up than those who received general recommendations. This suggests a multidomain mobile app intervention could help improve cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Prevention →
Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants84
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 55/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| 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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 84 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 | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Sang Gyu Lee: h-index 33 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Hallym University: institution h-index 330 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41266554) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-24865-0
- PubMed: 41266554
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
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
Choi, H. Y., Kim, Y. J., Son, D., Ahn, M. E., & Lee, S. G. (2025). Effectiveness of a 52-week multidomain intervention to maintain cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-24865-0
Vancouver
Choi HY, Kim YJ, Son D, Ahn ME, Lee SG. Effectiveness of a 52-week multidomain intervention to maintain cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports. 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-24865-0. PMID: 41266554.
BibTeX
@article{choi2025-41266554,
author = {Choi, Ha Yeong and Kim, Yeo Jin and Son, Dae‐Soon and Ahn, Moo Eob and Lee, Sang Gyu},
title = {{Effectiveness of a 52-week multidomain intervention to maintain cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial}},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-24865-0},
pmid = {41266554},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-24865-0}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Related studies in Prevention trials
Also tagged “assessment”
840 studies in the library carry the topic tag “assessment”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 840 tagged studies.