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Efficacy of different digital interventions in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Xin Lin, Guangyi Xu, Mengjiao Zhao, Yunxia Jiang. International journal of nursing studies, 2025-05-29
Topic: Brain imaging, connectivity and assessment
A total of 57 articles were included in the review, including 3182 participants. Network meta-analysis showed that mobile device-based electronic games were the most effective intervention in slowing the decline of global cognition (standard mean difference (SMD) = 5.09, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 2.17, 11.91) and the decline of executive function (SMD = 0.17, 95 % CI 0.03, 0.90) in the most effective interventions. As for memory function, immersive virtual reality technology was the most effective cognitive intervention to slow down memory decline (SMD = 2.71, 95 % CI 1.35, 5.46). Digital cognitive interventions have better efficacy compared to conventional therapies, and mobile video games and immersive virtual reality may be the best digital cognitive interventions to slow cognitive decline.
Key findings
- A total of 57 articles were included in the review, including 3182 participants.
- Network meta-analysis showed that mobile device-based electronic games were the most effective intervention in slowing the decline of global cognition (standard mean difference (SMD) = 5.09, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 2.17, 11.91) and the decline of executive function (SMD = 0.17, 95 % CI 0.03, 0.90) in the most effective interventions.
- As for memory function, immersive virtual reality technology was the most effective cognitive intervention to slow down memory decline (SMD = 2.71, 95 % CI 1.35, 5.46).
- Digital cognitive interventions have better efficacy compared to conventional therapies, and mobile video games and immersive virtual reality may be the best digital cognitive interventions to slow cognitive decline.
Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Participants3,182
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 82/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, 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, multi-centre collaboration and free to read, so those were left out: it earned 46 of the 56 points we could judge it on, which is 82 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of nursing studies) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| 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 | 3 / 4 | 3,182 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| 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 | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40505259) |
| Free to read | — / 2 | Access not recorded — left out of this score |
| Points | 46 / 56 | Scored on 10 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 46 of the 56 points we could judge it on is 82 out of 100. |
| Total | 82 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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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
Lin, X., Xu, G., Zhao, M., & Jiang, Y. (2025). Efficacy of different digital interventions in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105129
Vancouver
Lin X, Xu G, Zhao M, Jiang Y. Efficacy of different digital interventions in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105129. PMID: 40505259.
BibTeX
@article{lin2025-40505259,
author = {Lin, Xin and Xu, Guangyi and Zhao, Mengjiao and Jiang, Yunxia},
title = {{Efficacy of different digital interventions in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis}},
journal = {International journal of nursing studies},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105129},
pmid = {40505259},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105129}
}
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