Hui-Chuan Huang1, Yu-Ting Chen2, Pin-Yuan Chen3, Sophia Huey-Lan Hu1, Fang Liu4, Ying-Ling Kuo5, Hsiao-Yean Chiu6. 1. School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chung Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, Chung Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 4. School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Department of Nursing, Yonghe Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: hychiu0315@tmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Cognitive function impairments and depressive symptoms are common in elderly people with dementia. Previous meta-analyses of outdated and small-scale studies have reported inconsistent results regarding the effects of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms; therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis by including more recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with large sample sizes to investigate the immediate and long-term (6-10 months) effects of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia. REVIEW METHODS: Electronic databases, including PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and Chinese databases were searched to select eligible articles. Primary outcome measures included the scores of cognitive functions and depressive symptoms. In total, 12 RCT studies investigating the effects of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data. All analyses were performed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Reminiscence therapy had a small-size effect on cognitive functions (g = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05-0.30) and a moderate-size effect on depressive symptoms (g = -0.49, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.28) in elderly people with dementia. Long-term effects of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were not confirmed. Moderator analysis revealed that institutionalized elderly people with dementia exhibited greater improvement in depressive symptoms than community-dwelling people with dementia did (g = -0.59 vs. -0.16, P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis confirms that reminiscence therapy is effective in improving cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia. Our findings suggest that regular reminiscence therapy should be considered for inclusion as routine care for the improvement of cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia, particularly in institutionalized residents with dementia.
OBJECTIVE:Cognitive function impairments and depressive symptoms are common in elderly people with dementia. Previous meta-analyses of outdated and small-scale studies have reported inconsistent results regarding the effects of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms; therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis by including more recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with large sample sizes to investigate the immediate and long-term (6-10 months) effects of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia. REVIEW METHODS: Electronic databases, including PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and Chinese databases were searched to select eligible articles. Primary outcome measures included the scores of cognitive functions and depressive symptoms. In total, 12 RCT studies investigating the effects of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data. All analyses were performed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Reminiscence therapy had a small-size effect on cognitive functions (g = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05-0.30) and a moderate-size effect on depressive symptoms (g = -0.49, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.28) in elderly people with dementia. Long-term effects of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were not confirmed. Moderator analysis revealed that institutionalized elderly people with dementia exhibited greater improvement in depressive symptoms than community-dwelling people with dementia did (g = -0.59 vs. -0.16, P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis confirms that reminiscence therapy is effective in improving cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia. Our findings suggest that regular reminiscence therapy should be considered for inclusion as routine care for the improvement of cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia, particularly in institutionalized residents with dementia.
Authors: Abel Toledano-González; Dulce Romero-Ayuso; Dolores Fernández-Pérez; Marta Nieto; Jorge Javier Ricarte; Beatriz Navarro-Bravo; Laura Ros; José Miguel Latorre Journal: Psychol Res Date: 2022-07-20
Authors: Raina L Croff; Phelps Witter Iv; Miya L Walker; Edline Francois; Charlie Quinn; Thomas C Riley; Nicole F Sharma; Jeffrey A Kaye Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2019-01-09