Multimodal Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions for Patients With MCI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Cognition and Mood

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Ying, G., Perez-Lao, A., et al. (2024).

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 16, 1390699.

<div>This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effects of multimodal cognitive and/or behavioral interventions on cognition and mood in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).&nbsp;</div>

National Institute on Aging

From database inception to January 1, 2024

<div>Randomized controlled trials</div>

18

<div>Multimodal cognitive and/or behavioral interventions improved cognition (g = 0.44; a small to moderate effect) and mood (g = 0.65; a moderate to large effect) in individuals with MCI. Subgroup analyses revealed the following treatment effects on specific cognitive domains:</div> <div> <ul> <li><strong>executive function: </strong>a small to moderate effect (g = 0.30);</li> <li><strong>global cognition:</strong> a small to moderate effect (g = 0.31);</li> <li><strong>non-verbal memory:&nbsp;</strong>a small to moderate effect (g = 0.45);</li> <li><strong>verbal fluency:</strong>&nbsp;a small to moderate effect (g = 0.45);</li> <li><strong>verbal memory: </strong>a small effect (g = 0.20); and</li> <li><strong>visuospatial skills:</strong> a small to moderate effect (g = 0.28).</li> </ul> <div>Of note, multimodal interventions included combined treatments of cognitive training and/or social skills training alongside physical training or other treatment components (music therapy, operation therapy, education, psychotherapy). Every treatment program had at least one component within the scope of speech-language pathology.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Limitations to this review include the potential for repeated testing effects within studies, a lack of investigation into the impact of patient characteristics on outcomes, and the potential for heterogeneity and publication bias.</div> </div>