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The Effect of Multidomain Interventions on Global Cognition, Symptoms of Depression and Apathy - A Pooled Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials
den Brok MGHE, Hoevenaar-Blom MP, Coley N, Andrieu S, van Dalen J, Meiller Y, Guillemont J, Brayne C et al.. The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease, 2022-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle factors are associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia in observational studies, and have been targeted by multidomain interventions. Objectives We pooled individual participant data from two multi-domain intervention trials on cognitive function and symptoms of depression to increase power and facilitate subgroup analyses. Design Pooled analysis of individual participant data. Setting Prevention of Dementia by Intensive Vascular Care trial (preDIVA) and Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT). Participants Community-dwelling individuals, free from dementia at baseline. Intervention Multidomain interventions focused on cardiovascular and lifestyle related risk factors. Measurements Data on cognitive functioning, depressive symptoms and apathy were collected at baseline, 2 years and 3-4 years of follow-up as available per study. We analyzed crude scores with linear mixed models for overall cognitive function (Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE]), and symptoms of depression and apathy (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale). Prespecified subgroup analyses were performed for sex, educational level, baseline MMSE Results We included 4162 individuals (median age 74 years, IQR 72, 76) with a median follow-up duration of 3.7 years (IQR 3.0 to 4.1 years). No differences between intervention and control groups were observed on change in cognitive functioning scores and symptoms of depression and apathy scores in the pooled study population. The MMSE declined less in the intervention groups in those with MMSE Conclusions We found no conclusive evidence that multidomain interventions reduce the risk of global cognitive decline, symptoms of depression or apathy in a mixed older population. Our results suggest that these interventions may be more effective in those with lower baseline cognitive functioning. Extended follow-up for dementia occurrence is important to inform on the potential long-term effects of multidomain interventions.
Key findings
- Background Cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle factors are associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia in observational studies, and have been targeted by multidomain interventions.
- We analyzed crude scores with linear mixed models for overall cognitive function (Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE]), and symptoms of depression and apathy (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale).
- Prespecified subgroup analyses were performed for sex, educational level, baseline MMSE Results We included 4162 individuals (median age 74 years, IQR 72, 76) with a median follow-up duration of 3.7 years (IQR 3.0 to 4.1 years).
- The MMSE declined less in the intervention groups in those with MMSE Conclusions We found no conclusive evidence that multidomain interventions reduce the risk of global cognitive decline, symptoms of depression or apathy in a mixed older population.
- Our results suggest that these interventions may be more effective in those with lower baseline cognitive functioning.
Why it matters
Pooling data from two multidomain intervention trials with 4162 participants, there were no differences between intervention and control groups in global cognition, depression, or apathy. This means the multidomain interventions did not improve these outcomes.
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Study details
- Participants4,162
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 63 (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 | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 4,162 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 | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 13 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.2 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 1.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Edo Richard: h-index 61 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Inserm: institution h-index 1,988 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 11 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 35098979) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — Unpaywall lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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APA 7th
den Brok, M. G. H. E., Hoevenaar-Blom, M. P., Coley, N., Andrieu, S., van Dalen, J., Meiller, Y., et al. (2022). The Effect of Multidomain Interventions on Global Cognition, Symptoms of Depression and Apathy - A Pooled Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials. The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease. https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2021.53
Vancouver
den Brok MGHE, Hoevenaar-Blom MP, Coley N, Andrieu S, van Dalen J, Meiller Y, et al. The Effect of Multidomain Interventions on Global Cognition, Symptoms of Depression and Apathy - A Pooled Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials. The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease. 2022. doi:10.14283/jpad.2021.53. PMID: 35098979.
BibTeX
@article{denbrok2022-35098979,
author = {den Brok, M. G. H. E. and Hoevenaar-Blom, M. P. and Coley, N. and Andrieu, S. and van Dalen, J. and Meiller, Y. and Guillemont, J. and Brayne, C. and others},
title = {{The Effect of Multidomain Interventions on Global Cognition, Symptoms of Depression and Apathy - A Pooled Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials}},
journal = {The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.14283/jpad.2021.53},
pmid = {35098979},
url = {https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2021.53}
}
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