SynthesisJournal of the American Medical Directors Association2021
Effectiveness of Brain Gaming in Older Adults With Cognitive Impairments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluating the User Experience and Usability of Game-Based Cognitive Assessments for Older People: Systematic Review.JMIR aging · 2025Pooled it
- Preliminary effects of mobile computerized cognitive training in adults with mild cognitive impairment: interim analysis of a randomized controlled trial.BMC psychology · 2025Trial
- Article
- Depression and Its Effect on Geriatric Rehabilitation Outcomes in Switzerland's Aging Population.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Article
- Effectiveness of a brain exercise program using game-based cognitive enhancement to reduce mild cognitive impairment among older adults in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand: a quasi-experimental study.Osong public health and research perspectives · 2025Article
- Enhancing Brain Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: Innovations in Lifestyle Interventions.Current psychiatry reports · 2024Review
- A Pilot Study to Improve Cognitive Performance and Pupil Responses in Mild Cognitive Impaired Patients Using Gaze-Controlled Gaming.Vision (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Benefits of a 12-Week Non-Drug "Brain Fitness Program" for Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, Post-Concussion Syndrome, or Memory Loss.Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports · 2023Article
- Artificial Cognitive Systems Applied in Executive Function Stimulation and Rehabilitation Programs: A Systematic Review.Arabian journal for science and engineering · 2023Article
- The Effectiveness of Serious Games on Cognitive Processing Speed Among Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JMIR serious games · 2022Review
- Association of Playing Cards or Mahjong with Cognitive Function in Chinese Older Adults.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Effectiveness of Serious Games for Improving Executive Functions Among Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JMIR serious games · 2022Review
- A Proposal of Cognitive Intervention in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease through an Assembling Game: A Pilot Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 7 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that designed brain gaming interventions to improve cognitive functions of older adults with cognitive impairments, including mild cognitive impairments and dementia.
designSystematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING AND
participantsN/A. MEASURES: N/A.
methodsData sources-relevant randomized control trials (RCTs) were identified by a systematic search of databases including Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane. RCTs were selected first based on title and abstract review and then on full-text review by independent reviewers using predefined eligibility criteria. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane RoB tool and funnel plots. The primary outcome variable was the composite score of global cognitive function.
resultsA total of 909 participants with mild cognitive impairment or dementia from 16 RCTs were included in the systematic review. The study quality was modest, and the RoB assessment showed bias in blinding the participants and personnel. Funnel plots showed no evidence of publication bias. The meta-analysis of 14 RCTs revealed no superior effect of brain gaming compared to other interventions on global cognitive function (pooled standardized mean difference = 0.08, 95% confidence interval -0.24, 0.41, P = .61, I CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that brain gaming compared with the control intervention does not show significant improvement in standardized tests of cognitive function. Because of considerable heterogeneity in sample size, gaming platform, cognitive status, study design, assessment tools, and training prescription, we cannot confidently refute the premise that brain gaming is an effective cognitive training approach for older adults with cognitive impairments. Recommendations for future research are included.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.