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Efficacy of digital therapeutic applications for cognitive training among older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Jeong HS, Lee YW, Rhee TG, Shim SR.. Psychiatry research, 2025-03-05
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Various digital therapeutics (DTx), which utilize computerized cognitive training (CCT) to improve cognitive functioning, have been tested and released. However, the efficacy of these DTx approaches may be diverse. This study aims to meta-synthesize the associations between mobile applications and cognitive functioning outcomes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from the inception through the end of June 2024. We selected RCTs using mobile application interventions in older adults with MCI or dementia. Interventions and comparisons included: CCT, intensive CCT (CCT2x), computerized cognitive engagement, progressive resistance training (PRT), CCT plus medication, CCT plus PRT, and medications only. Outcomes of interest included cognitive functioning and other measures of functioning (e.g., activities of daily living [ADLs]). Network meta-analysis was conducted to estimate pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Of 1,189 studies extracted, 10 RCTs were included in our analysis. CCT2x demonstrated statistically significant improvements in global cognitive function (SMD, 1.21 [95 % CI, 0.69-1.73]), episodic memory (SMD, 0.87 [0.47-1.27]), and working memory (SMD, 0.93 [0.44-1.42]) when compared with controls. For ADLs, CCT significantly reduced functional impairment (SMD, -0.80 [-1.40 to -0.21]). In depressive symptoms, CCT2x was the most effective in reducing symptoms (SMD, -0.77 [-1.08 to -0.45]). Overall, the DTx may be effective in improving cognitive and other functioning outcomes in older adults with MCI or dementia.
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APA 7th
Jeong, H. S., Lee, Y. W., Rhee, T. G., & Shim, SR. (2025). Efficacy of digital therapeutic applications for cognitive training among older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychiatry research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116426
Vancouver
Jeong HS, Lee YW, Rhee TG, Shim SR. Efficacy of digital therapeutic applications for cognitive training among older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychiatry research. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116426. PMID: 40073511.
BibTeX
@article{jeong2025-40073511,
author = {Jeong, H. S. and Lee, Y. W. and Rhee, T. G. and Shim, SR.},
title = {{Efficacy of digital therapeutic applications for cognitive training among older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials}},
journal = {Psychiatry research},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116426},
pmid = {40073511},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116426}
}
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Key findings
- CCT2x demonstrated statistically significant improvements in global cognitive function (SMD, 1.21 [95 % CI, 0.69-1.73]), episodic memory (SMD, 0.87 [0.47-1.27]), and working memory (SMD, 0.93 [0.44-1.42]) when compared with controls.
- For ADLs, CCT significantly reduced functional impairment (SMD, -0.80 [-1.40 to -0.21]).
- Overall, the DTx may be effective in improving cognitive and other functioning outcomes in older adults with MCI or dementia.
Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 69/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people 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 and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 40 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 69 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Psychiatry research) |
| 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 | 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 | — / 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 40073511) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 40 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 40 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 69 out of 100. |
| Total | 69 / 100 | — |
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