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Home-based, caregiver-assisted multimodal exercise and cognitive training via videoconferencing for older adults with mild dementia: A mixed-methods pilot study
Dandan Xue, Doris Sau Fung Yu, Ling Yue, Meiqing Sheng, Polly WC Li. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease, 2025-12-08
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
BackgroundEvidence on the effects of caregiver-assisted combined exercise and cognitive interventions for persons with dementia (PwD) is inconsistent.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a home-based Caregiver-Assisted Multimodal Exercise and Cognitive Training (CA-MECT) intervention via videoconferencing for persons with mild dementia in comparison with exercise or cognitive training alone and the control condition.MethodsThirty-three participants were randomized into a combined intervention, exercise, cognitive training, or control group. The combined intervention was a 12-week caregiver-assisted home-based sequentially combined multimodal exercise and cognitive training via videoconferencing. The exercise and cognitive training groups received a 12-week home-based Caregiver-Assisted Multimodal Exercise (CA-ME) and Caregiver-Assisted Cognitive Training (CA-CT), respectively, while the control group received health education. Validated instruments were used to evaluate cognitive, psychological, functional, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes.ResultsCA-MECT was feasible, safe, and highly acceptable for PwD and their caregivers. Exploratory analyses suggested that compared with the control group, the CA-MECT participants showed potential improvements in global cognition, immediate recall, attention, number and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), and caregivers' distress, though no clear benefits were observed in functional ability or HRQoL. When compared with single-component interventions, CA-MECT appeared to yield more favorable outcomes for immediate recall (versus CA-CT) and NPS severity (versus CA-ME), whereas its effects on processing speed were less favorable than both comparators.ConclusionsCA-MECT is feasible and shows promise in improving cognition and NPS among PwD. Future studies are warranted to fully explore its efficacy and sustainability.
Key findings
- Exploratory analyses suggested that compared with the control group, the CA-MECT participants showed potential improvements in global cognition, immediate recall, attention, number and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), and caregivers' distress, though no clear benefits were observed in functional ability or HRQoL.
- When compared with single-component interventions, CA-MECT appeared to yield more favorable outcomes for immediate recall (versus CA-CT) and NPS severity (versus CA-ME), whereas its effects on processing speed were less favorable than both comparators.ConclusionsCA-MECT is feasible and shows promise in improving cognition and NPS among PwD.
Why it matters
In this small pilot study of 33 people with mild dementia, a home-based caregiver-assisted exercise and cognitive training program delivered by video was feasible and acceptable, and exploratory analyses suggested possible improvements in cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms. These are preliminary findings from a small sample and need confirmation in larger trials.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 37 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 39 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer s Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 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 | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Polly WC Li holds only 4 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Hong Kong: institution h-index 1,069 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41358605) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 37 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 37 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 39 out of 100. |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
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
Xue, D., Yu, D. S. F., Yue, L., Sheng, M., & Li, P. W. C. (2025). Home-based, caregiver-assisted multimodal exercise and cognitive training via videoconferencing for older adults with mild dementia: A mixed-methods pilot study. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251401560
Vancouver
Xue D, Yu DSF, Yue L, Sheng M, Li PWC. Home-based, caregiver-assisted multimodal exercise and cognitive training via videoconferencing for older adults with mild dementia: A mixed-methods pilot study. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. 2025. doi:10.1177/13872877251401560. PMID: 41358605.
BibTeX
@article{xue2025-41358605,
author = {Xue, Dandan and Yu, Doris Sau Fung and Yue, Ling and Sheng, Meiqing and Li, Polly WC},
title = {{Home-based, caregiver-assisted multimodal exercise and cognitive training via videoconferencing for older adults with mild dementia: A mixed-methods pilot study}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer s Disease},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/13872877251401560},
pmid = {41358605},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251401560}
}
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