Art therapies and cognitive function in elderly with subjective cognitive decline: a protocol for a network...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a precursor to mild cognitive impairment and dementia, posing significant challenges to the elderly, caregivers, and society.
• The prevalence of SCD is increasing globally, necessitating effective interventions to support cognitive health in aging populations.
• Art therapies are emerging as promising non-pharmacological approaches for cognitive enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of various art therapies for individuals aged 60 and above experiencing subjective cognitive decline.
• To identify and rank the most effective art therapy interventions for improving cognitive function in this demographic.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians and policymakers regarding art therapy for SCD.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of eight electronic databases (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science) will be conducted for randomized controlled trials published between January 2013 and December 2023.
• Included studies will focus on art therapies (music, painting, dance, etc.) in participants aged 60+ with SCD, with cognitive function as the primary outcome.
• Data extraction, risk of bias assessment (Cochrane tool), evidence quality appraisal (GRADE), and both pairwise and Bayesian network meta-analyses will be performed.

Main Results:

• The study will present a meta-analysis of existing research, comparing the efficacy of different art therapies.
• Rankings of art therapies based on their effectiveness in improving cognitive function will be determined using surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA).
• The findings will highlight the relative benefits of specific art modalities for addressing SCD.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review and meta-analysis will offer crucial insights into the efficacy of art therapies for subjective cognitive decline in the elderly.
• The results will guide the selection of optimal art therapy interventions to support cognitive health and potentially delay or prevent the progression to dementia.
• Evidence generated will inform clinical practice and the development of guidelines for managing cognitive aging.