Home › Research › Treatments
Serious Games for Learning Among Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Abd-Alrazaq A, Abuelezz I, AlSaad R, Al-Jafar E, Ahmed A, Aziz S, Nashwan A, Sheikh J.. Journal of medical Internet research, 2023-04-12
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The results of the included studies were summarized using a narrative synthesis or meta-analysis, as appropriate. Results Of the 559 citations retrieved, 11 (2%) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) ultimately met all eligibility criteria for this review. A meta-analysis of 45% (5/11) of the RCTs revealed that serious games are effective in improving verbal learning among older adults with cognitive impairment in comparison with no or sham interventions (P=.04), and serious games do not have a different effect on verbal learning between patients with mild cognitive impairment and those with Alzheimer disease (P=.89). A meta-analysis of 18% (2/11) of the RCTs revealed that serious games are as effective as conventional exercises in promoting verbal learning (P=.98). However, our findings remain inconclusive because of the low quality of evidence, the small sample size in most of the meta-analyzed studies (6/8, 75%), and the paucity of studies included in the meta-analyses.
Key findings
- The results of the included studies were summarized using a narrative synthesis or meta-analysis, as appropriate.
- Results Of the 559 citations retrieved, 11 (2%) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) ultimately met all eligibility criteria for this review.
- A meta-analysis of 45% (5/11) of the RCTs revealed that serious games are effective in improving verbal learning among older adults with cognitive impairment in comparison with no or sham interventions (P=.04), and serious games do not have a different effect on verbal learning between patients with mild cognitive impairment and those with Alzheimer disease (P=.89).
- A meta-analysis of 18% (2/11) of the RCTs revealed that serious games are as effective as conventional exercises in promoting verbal learning (P=.98).
- However, our findings remain inconclusive because of the low quality of evidence, the small sample size in most of the meta-analyzed studies (6/8, 75%), and the paucity of studies included in the meta-analyses.
Why it matters
This review of 11 randomized trials found serious games improved verbal learning compared with no or sham interventions, and worked as well as conventional exercises. However, the authors call the findings inconclusive because of low-quality evidence, small samples, and few studies.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Treatments →
Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 60/100
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 (Journal of medical Internet research) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Medical Internet Research: journal h-index 286 (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 | 3 / 5 | 2023 — within 6 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 | 3 / 7 | Cited 28 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.6 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| 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 26 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Javaid I. Sheikh: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Weill Cornell Medicine: institution h-index 1,163 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 37043277) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.2196/43607
- PubMed: 37043277
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Medical Internet Research →
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. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Abd-Alrazaq, A., Abuelezz, I., AlSaad, R., Al-Jafar, E., Ahmed, A., Aziz, S., et al. (2023). Serious Games for Learning Among Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of medical Internet research. https://doi.org/10.2196/43607
Vancouver
Abd-Alrazaq A, Abuelezz I, AlSaad R, Al-Jafar E, Ahmed A, Aziz S, et al. Serious Games for Learning Among Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of medical Internet research. 2023. doi:10.2196/43607. PMID: 37043277.
BibTeX
@article{abdalrazaq2023-37043277,
author = {Abd-Alrazaq, A. and Abuelezz, I. and AlSaad, R. and Al-Jafar, E. and Ahmed, A. and Aziz, S. and Nashwan, A. and Sheikh, J.},
title = {{Serious Games for Learning Among Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis}},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.2196/43607},
pmid = {37043277},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/43607}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
1 study in the alzhub library lists this one in its references.