Thinking programmes helped thinking in Alzheimer's but did not ease depression

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   2,179 people with Alzheimer's took part in 41 trials. Their average ages were about 69 to 88, and in each trial between about 23% and 83% were women.

2. 02

   What they did

   Each trial gave a thinking programme: exercises, group activities, or therapy aimed at everyday goals. Some programmes added exercise, and sessions lasted 30 to 120 minutes for 5 to 47 weeks. The other group did something unstructured, waited, or had usual care.

3. 03

   What happened

   Thinking got better more than in the other groups across 39 studies, and attention and quality of life got better too. Depression did not change more than in the other groups. The authors ranked programmes that add exercise or other activities highest, but said more trials are needed to compare them.

What the review found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 39 studies, thinking improved more in people who did the programmes than in the other groups.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 39 studies · vs people who did something else, waited or had usual care · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. HelpedFocus

   Across 6 studies, attention test scores improved more in people who did the programmes than in the other groups.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 6 studies · vs people who did something else, waited or had usual care · the authors rated their certainty moderate · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. No differenceOther outcomes

   Across 12 studies, depression did not improve more in people who did the programmes than in the other groups.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 12 studies · vs people who did something else, waited or had usual care · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

4. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 6 studies, quality of life improved more in people who did the programmes than in the other groups.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 6 studies · vs people who did something else, waited or had usual care · the authors rated their certainty moderate · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source