Effectiveness of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for Mild to Moderate Dementia: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Control Trials Using the Original CST Protocol
Ageing Research Reviews
Desai, R., Leung, W. G., et al. (2024).
Ageing Research Reviews, 97, 102312.
<div>This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effects the original 14-session Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) protocol on cognitive functioning and related outcomes in people with mild to moderate dementia. This review partially updates Lobbia et al. (2019), but only includes randomized control trials. For more information, see the "Notes on This Article" section below.</div>
No funding received
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<div>This article partially updates another document in the Evidence Map system. Please see the Additional Article(s) section below for more information.</div>
2001 to May 2023
<div>Published, peer-reviewed randomized control trials</div>
12 (11 in meta-analysis)
<div>Across 11 studies, the original 14-session CST protocol significantly improved:</div>
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<ul>
<li>global cognition (d = 0.45);</li>
<li>language (d = 0.51);</li>
<li>working memory (d = 0.87);</li>
<li>depression symptoms (d= 0.38);</li>
<li>neuropsychiatric symptoms (d = -0.36);</li>
<li>communication (d = 0.38);</li>
<li>dementia symptom severity (d = -0.34); and</li>
<li>self-reported quality of life (d = 0.24).</li>
</ul>
<div>CST had no significant impact on orientation, anxiety symptoms, social and emotional loneliness, functional ability, care partner burden, behavior, or quality of life as rated by a care partner.</div>
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<div>Limitations to this review include heterogeneity between studies and a small number of included studies for each investigated outcome. </div>
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