Effect of Multimodal Cognitive Intervention in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Nonpharmacological interventions benefit individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but the synergistic benefits of combining various training models with cognitive training for older adults with MCI remain unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of multimodal cognitive interventions on individuals with MCI by comparing intervention and control groups across cognitive domains and quality of life measures. A comprehensive search was conducted in several databases, focusing primarily on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database from 2010 to December, 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) incorporating cognitive training along with other training components were eligible for this study. The methodological quality of studies was evaluated by the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB-2). Sixteen studies were included in the analysis, performed by using Jamovi software. The within-group analysis for the intervention group showed significant improvements in memory (Hedges’ g = 1.210, p < 0.001) and depression (Hedges’ g = 0.921, p = 0.003), indicating multimodal cognitive interventions enhance these domains. The between-group comparison revealed a marginally significant positive effect on memory (Hedges’ g = 0.493, p = 0.052) and depression (Hedges’ g = 0.801, p = 0.214), but not on global cognition, working memory, language, or quality of life. The meta-analysis also showed that age does not significantly moderate intervention effects, whereas education significantly moderates memory outcomes. This meta-analysis highlights mixed effects of multimodal interventions for MCI, suggesting further research should refine intervention strategies to enhance the efficacy of multimodal interventions for individuals with MCI.