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57/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 57 out of 100. Digital health tools

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Results show that the two most common components of FCIs are to build on communication strategies people currently use, and to practise these strategies with a communication partner. There are variations in the interventions, such as location and dosage. All 19 studies report improvements, of which eight report statistically significant results. Forty-two different measures are used across the 19 studies. This study highlights that building on existing strategies and practising these with a CP, are key components of FCIs for people with PPA, yet there remains a lack of clarity around optimal dosage. Further rigorous research using a core set of outcome measures is a priority in this area.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Volkmer, A., Spector, A., Meitanis, V., Warren, J. D., & Beeke, S. (2020). Effects of functional communication interventions for people with primary progressive aphasia and their caregivers: a systematic review. Aging & mental health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1617246

Vancouver

Volkmer A, Spector A, Meitanis V, Warren JD, Beeke S. Effects of functional communication interventions for people with primary progressive aphasia and their caregivers: a systematic review. Aging & mental health. 2020. doi:10.1080/13607863.2019.1617246. PMID: 31134821.

BibTeX

@article{volkmer2020-31134821,
  author  = {Volkmer, A. and Spector, A. and Meitanis, V. and Warren, J. D. and Beeke, S.},
  title   = {{Effects of functional communication interventions for people with primary progressive aphasia and their caregivers: a systematic review}},
  journal = {Aging \& mental health},
  year    = {2020},
  doi     = {10.1080/13607863.2019.1617246},
  pmid    = {31134821},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1617246}
}

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Key findings

Results show that the two most common components of FCIs are to build on communication strategies people currently use, and to practise these strategies with a communication partner.
There are variations in the interventions, such as location and dosage.
All 19 studies report improvements, of which eight report statistically significant results.
Forty-two different measures are used across the 19 studies.
This study highlights that building on existing strategies and practising these with a CP, are key components of FCIs for people with PPA, yet there remains a lack of clarity around optimal dosage.

Why it matters

This systematic review of 19 studies found that functional communication interventions for people with primary progressive aphasia commonly build on existing strategies and practise them with a communication partner, with all studies reporting improvements but only eight reporting statistically significant results. This is about communication support in a related condition, not treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.

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Study details

Study designsystematic review
Evidence strengthHigh

How this study scored 57/100

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	2020 — 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	4 / 7	Cited 81 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	3 / 5	10.1 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020
Impact for its field and year	2 / 6	Cited 1.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	1 / 6	Cited by 1 other studies in this library
Still being cited	2 / 4	Cited 30 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	2 / 4	Last-listed author Suzanne Beeke: h-index 30 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	2 / 3	University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31134821)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	57 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

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