Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Multidomain lifestyle interventions for cognition and the risk of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Xiangfei Meng1, Shuyan Fang1, Shuang Zhang1
1School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Background:
Cognitive impairment and dementia have emerged as one of the greatest global challenges for health and social care. Multidomain interventions that target several risk factors simultaneously may achieve optimal preventive effects for dementia.
Objective:
This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of multidomain lifestyle interventions for improving cognition and reducing the risk of dementia.
Design:
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods:
Five electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, were systematically searched from inception to April 17, 2021. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed multidomain lifestyle interventions on the outcomes of cognition or dementia risk were included. The standardized mean difference (Hedges' g) was calculated using random-effects models. Risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool for randomised trials (RoB2), and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the five Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.
Results:
Seventeen RCTs involving 12,312 participants were included. The meta-analysis indicated that multidomain lifestyle interventions showed small but significant effects on both the risk of dementia (SMD = -0.11; 95%CI, -0.18 to -0.05; P <0.001; I2 = 0%; 6RCTs, 1981 participants) and the cognitive composite score (SMD = 0.10; 95%CI, 0.02 to 0.17; P = 0.012; I2 = 27.5%; 7 RCTs, 2643 participants). No significant improvements were found in global cognition (SMD = -0.04; 95% CI, -0.12 to 0.04; P = 0.330; I2 = 38.3%; 9 RCTs, 3740 participants).
Conclusions:
Multidomain lifestyle interventions have the potential to reduce the risk of dementia (high-certainty evidence) and improve the cognitive composite score (moderate-certainty evidence). There is no moderate- or high-certainty evidence that multidomain interventions improve global cognition. Future large-scale, high-quality studies are required to determine the effects of multidomain interventions on global cognition or other cognitive domains.
Registration:
The systematic review and meta-analysis have been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021260122).
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...

