SynthesisBMC neurology2026
Digital reminiscence therapy in dementia care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDementia is a major neurodegenerative condition with limited treatment options, making non-pharmacological interventions increasingly important. Reminiscence therapy (RT) has shown benefits in dementia care, and its digital formats - delivered via virtual reality, mobile applications, or multimedia - may offer greater personalization, accessibility, and flexibility in clinical practice. However, evidence of their effectiveness remains fragmented and requires systematic synthesis.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of digital RT in dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with literature searches conducted up to 1 May 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one-arm pre-post studies. Outcomes assessed were cognition, mood, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), quality of life (QOL), communication and engagement. RCTs were pooled in meta-analyses, while pre-post studies were narratively synthesized.
resultsMeta-analysis of RCTs suggested a possible improvement in BPSD, although the evidence was based on few studies of limited size and mixed comparators. Personalized and socially engaging formats appeared most associated with favorable outcomes. No significant effects were found for cognition, mood, QOL or communication and engagement, and overall results remained inconclusive due to variability in intervention design, delivery methods, and outcome measures. Narrative synthesis of pre-post studies revealed mixed results across domains, reflecting small samples, diverse digital formats and lack of control groups.
conclusionsDigital RT may provide limited benefits for managing BPSD, particularly when incorporating personalized and socially engaging elements. However, the overall evidence remains inconclusive and inconsistent across other outcome domains. Larger, multicenter randomized controlled trials using standardized protocols, validated outcome measures, and direct comparisons with both traditional RT and usual care are needed to clarify its therapeutic value and identify the most effective digital formats and target populations.
trial registrationThe review protocol number was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251039295).
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