A Systematic Review of Cognitive Telerehabilitation in Patients With Cognitive Dysfunction
Frontiers in Neurology
Jeon, H., Kim, D. Y., et al. (2024).
Frontiers in Neurology, 15, 1450977.
<div>This systematic review with meta-analysis investigates the effects of cognitive telerehabilitation on cognitive function, activities of daily living, and quality of life in individuals with cognitive dysfunction from any etiology (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases).</div>
Korea Health Industry Development Institute
From database inception to December 10, 2024
<div>Randomized controlled trials</div>
16
<div>Cognitive telerehabilitation demonstrated no significant difference in effects compared to traditional in-person cognitive treatments in the domains of global cognition, attention, and visuospatial function for individuals with cognitive dysfunction. When compared to no treatment or sham treatments, cognitive telerehabilitation demonstrated better immediate global cognition outcomes (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD]=0.55; 7 studies), but showed no significant differences in persistent global cognition, attention, executive function, working memory, or visuospatial function. The included studies reported no adverse effects. The authors highlight that while telerehabilitation does not replace in-person treatments, it does offer a care option that may improve accessibility and increase cost-savings.</div>
<div>For individuals with stroke, cognitive telerehabilitation compared to no treatment or sham treatment showed the following effects:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>immediate global cognition on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; SMD=0.40; 2 studies); and </li>
<li>persistent global cognition on the MoCA (MD=0.51; 2 studies).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>For individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive telerehabilitation compared to no treatment or sham treatment showed the following effects: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>global cognition (immediate) on the MoCA (SMD=0.64; 4 studies);</li>
<li>global cognition (persistent) on the MoCA (MD=1.75; 1 study);</li>
<li>attention (immediate) on the Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A) and digit cancellation (SMD=0.23; 3 studies);</li>
<li>executive function (immediate) TMT-B (MD=-19.35; 2 studies); and</li>
<li>working memory(immediate) on the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (SMD=-0.02; 3 studies).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>For individuals with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, cognitive telerehabilitation compared to no treatment or sham treatment showed the following effects: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>global cognition (immediate) on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (SMD=0.60; 1 study);</li>
<li>attention (immediate) on the Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A; SMD=0.25; 1 study);</li>
<li>executive function (immediate) on the TMT-B (MD=9.10; 1 study); and</li>
<li>visuospatial function (immediate) on the Clock drawing test and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Copy Test (SMD=0.49; 3 studies).</li>
</ul>
</div>
