Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40802794›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2025

The effect of tablet-based multimodal training on cognitive functioning in Alzheimer's disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Julia Zuschnegg, Stefan Ropele, Peter Opriessnig, Reinhold Schmidt, Silvia Russegger, Maria Fellner, Manuel Leitner, Stephan Spat, Manuel Leal Garcia, Bernhard Strobl and 8 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04628702 (Playful Multimodal Intervention, Monitoring and Decision Support for Activation of People With Alzheimer's Dementia), which is not on this map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT04628702 nacompletednot on this map

Playful Multimodal Intervention, Monitoring and Decision Support for Activation of People With Alzheimer's Dementia

TypeinterventionalSponsorMedical University of GrazRan2020 to 2023Enrolled24ConditionsAlzheimer DiseaseArmstablet training
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Julia ZuschneggInstitute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0825-4999
Stefan RopeleDepartment of Neurology, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Peter OpriessnigDepartment of Neurology, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Reinhold SchmidtDepartment of Neurology, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Silvia RusseggerInstitute Digital, Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Graz, Austria.
Maria FellnerdigitAAL Life GmbH, Graz, Austria.
Manuel LeitnerDepartment of Medical Psychology, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Stephan SpatdigitAAL Life GmbH, Graz, Austria.
Manuel Leal GarciaProbando GmbH, Graz, Austria.
Bernhard StroblAustrian Red Cross Organization, Styrian branch, Graz, Austria.
Karin PloderAustrian Red Cross Organization, Styrian branch, Graz, Austria.
Martin PszeidaInstitute Digital, Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Graz, Austria.
Maria M Hofmarcher-HolzhackerHS&I Health System Intelligence, Vienna, Austria.
Eva Stoegerer-OberschmidDepartment of Neurology, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Alexandra Guttmann-LattmanigDepartment of Neurology, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Lucas PalettaInstitute Digital, Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Graz, Austria.
Sandra SchüsslerInstitute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Marisa KoiniDepartment of Neurology, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1756-1379

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundComputerized cognitive training conducted in a home setting has shown beneficial effects on cognitive functions in people with mild cognitive impairment. Similar effects in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) have not yet been found. We aimed to examine the effect of a six-month tablet-based multimodal training in community-dwelling people with mild to moderate AD on cognitive functions and on the volume of (sub)cortical structures.

methodsWithin a randomized controlled trial, a six-month (un)supervised tablet-based multimodal training including cognitive and physical exercises in people with mild to moderate AD (n = 11) was compared to a control group (n = 11) that received cognitive paper-and-pencil exercises for voluntary, unsupervised training. Participants in the intervention group were visited by professional trainers on a weekly basis for joint, supervised training sessions and were encouraged to train alone or with a caregiver as often as possible. Neuropsychological examination included assessments of global cognitive functions, memory, attention, executive functions, and verbal fluency. Freesurfer analyses of T1-weighted scans from structural magnetic resonance imaging were used to assess volumes of specific (sub)cortical areas (e.g., hippocampal volume).

resultsOver six months, the intervention group showed a stable global cognitive function score (Mini Mental Status Examination), whereas the control group showed a cognitive decline (ANCOVA-interaction: F1, 14 = 5.083, p = .041; controlled for disease duration and education). No other selective cognitive domain showed a significant time-by-group difference. No difference in cerebral volumes were detected.

conclusionThe tablet-based multimodal training with cognitive and physical activation has positive effects on global cognitive functions of people with mild to moderate AD over a six-month training period, but lacks measurable transferability to other cognitive domains such as memory, attention or executive functions or brain structure. Further research on such interventions using high-quality longitudinal designs is recommended.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04628702).

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCognitionComputers, HandheldAgedAged, 80 and overCognitive DysfunctionFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleNeuropsychological Tests

Identifiers

PMID40802794
PMCPMC12349711

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.