Neural Mechanisms of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease: An ALE Meta-Analysis
Experimental Gerontology
Wang, N., Li, J., et al. (2025).
Experimental Gerontology, 200, 112678.
<div>This systematic review with activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis investigates the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on brain activation in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).</div>
Colleges and Universities in Hubei Province for Exercise and Brain Science (China); Wuhan Sports University (China)
From database inception to August 7, 2023
<div>Empirical study designs. Excludes meta-analyses, reviews, and case studies.</div>
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<div>Cognitive training demonstrated brain activation in regions linked to cognitive decline and information integration in individuals with MCI or AD. Areas of activation included the insula, precentral gyrus, and superior temporal gyrus regions.</div>
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<div>Limitations of this review include the paucity of related studies, the lack of inclusion of other related disorders, the variability of intervention service delivery across studies, and the potential that other factors may have influenced the changes in brain imaging. Additional research with strict methodology is needed to investigate the application of neuroimaging in disease prediction and prognosis and the impact of intervention dosage on outcomes in individuals with AD or MCI.</div>
<div>Memory strategy training enhanced functional connectivity and increased activation of the hippocampus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regions of MCI patients.</div>
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<div>Limitations of this review include the paucity of related studies, the lack of inclusion of other related disorders, the variability of intervention service delivery across studies, and the potential that other factors may have influenced the changes in brain imaging. Additional research with strict methodology is needed to investigate the application of neuroimaging in disease prediction and prognosis and the impact of intervention dosage on outcomes in individuals with AD or MCI.</div>
