Table 2 Intervention characteristics

Ahessy

2016 [58]

Arts-based

To explore whether participation in a music therapy choir intervention could reduce depression, quality of life and cognitive function in older adults

Choir session facilitated by a music therapist covering meditation and relaxation,vocal improvisation, singing and articulation exercises, and learning and singing repertoire/

Music therapist, researcher.

Long-term residential units and day-care centre in Dublin.

1h weekly x 12 weeks (12 hours)

Standard nursing care

Face to face Group

Akanuma

2011 [59]

Reminiscence

To investigate the effect of psychosocial intervention on daily lives for vascular dementia

Group reminiscence focused on talking about topics related to the participants’ past such as childhood memories (toys, school days, textbooks), and epoch making events in one’s life (marriage, jobs)

Registered nurses, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists.

Geriatric nursing home in Nakada, Japan.

1h weekly x 12 weeks (12 hours)

Only supportive care

Face to face Group

Dodge

2015 [60]

Social-based

To assess adherence rates and effect of conversation-based cognitive stimulation through personal computers, webcams and a user-friendly interactive Internet interface on cognitive function

Face to face conversations with trained interviewers via video call

Trained research associates, interviewers trained research nurses, technical support personnel, single professional transcriber.

Retirement communities and senior centers located in Portland, USA.

5 x 30–35 minute weekly x 6 weeks

(15 hours)

Weekly telephone interview

Internet based conversation

(Videochat)

Gudex

2010 [61]

Reminiscence

To strengthen individual’s identify, self-work, coherence and control of one’s own life

Reminiscence forms: general (group session for two to eight residents with similar backgrounds or interests), specific (tailored sessions for one to two residents focusing on individual communication needs) and spontaneous (informal use of comments during daily activities to elicit residents’ memories)

A reminiscence

trainer, nursing staff.

Danish nursing homes.

48 weeks

Usual care

Face to face Individual and Group

Iizuka

2018 [62]

Cognitive group-based

To clarify the influence of social interaction on the effect of a cognitive intervention program using Go

Activity involved attending a lecture on basic Go rules and techniques, solving Go exercises, learning tactics using a model game (kifu-narabe) and playing Go with other participants. The participants were also allowed to interact with instructors and other participants during the lessons and games and share feedback at the end

Four instructors.

Community center in Tokyo, Japan.

1h weekly game x 12 weeks and

1h homework x 6 days (18 hours)

Health education

Face to face Group

Tablet Individually

Meléndez-Moral

2013 [63]

Reminiscence

To investigate the usefulness of a reminiscence intervention in institutionalised care

Sessions focused on reminiscence themes such as childhood memories, hometown, games, songs, holidays, movies and family

Directed by a psychologist.

Two retirement homes in the province of Valencia.

8h

Normal participation of activities found in nursing homes

Face to face Group

Mortimer

2012 [64]

Social-based

To assess the effect of social interventions on the risk of dementia, cognitive decline, or changes in brain volume

The social interaction group convened with a group leader and assistant, initially provided with guidance on discussion topics. However, participants independently opted to organise and select their own subjects

Medical personnel, group leaders and assistance, study coordinator.

Jingansi Temple Community of Shanghai based on a government-maintained census name list.

3 x 50mins weekly x 40 weeks (~120 hours)

Phone contact four times

Face to face Group

Nakatsuka

2015 [65]

Reminiscence and cognitive group-based

To directly compare the effects of cognitive interventions, physical activities and group reminiscence approach

Cognitive group engaged in cognitive tasks and games targeting executive function and attention. The hysical activity group performed exercises such as walking and step aerobics and the reminiscence group participated in reality orientation and reminiscence discussions about past events and experiences. All three group sessions included a tea break and instructions for home assignments which were to be completed with family members

Medical doctors and public health nurses, certified neurologists, two raters, one instructor and two assistants.

Public halls or community centers of the regions of living of the participants in Kurihara City, northern Japan.

1h weekly x 12 weeks

(12 hours)

—

Face to face Group

Park

2014 [66]

Arts-based

To test whether sustained engagement in learning new skills activated working memory, episodic memory, and reasoning over a period of 3 months would enhance cognitive function in older adults

Structured training on respective skills on photography, computer, quilt making, digital photography and social group

Professional photographer, professional quilting instructor, instructor directed activities.

Synapse Center located in a strip mall in Dallas, Texas.

15h weekly x 12 weeks

(180 hours)

2) placebo condition

3) no-treatment

condition.

Face to face Group

Peña

2014 [67]

Social-based

To examine the efficacy of an integrative cognitive training program (REHACOP) to improve cognition, clinical symptoms, and functional disability of patients with Parkinson disease

Structured paper-pencil task-based program that focused on restoration, compensation and optimisation strategies of rehabilitation

Neurologist and ASPARBI, psychologists.

Department of Neurology at Galdakao Hospital and the Parkinson’s Disease Association (ASPARBI) both in Biscay.

3h weekly x 9 weeks

(27 hours)

Occupational group activities conducted by a psychologist

Face to face Group

Pitkala

2011 [68]

Arts-based

To determine the effects of socially stimulating group intervention on cognition among older individuals reporting loneliness

Included socially stimulating activities and art experiences, group exercise and therapeutic writing to enhance communication, peer support and empowerment among participants

Registered nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists.

Six communities from the Finnish National Population Register in seven study sites throughout Finland.

6h weekly x 12 weeks

(72 hours)

Normal community care

Face to face Group

Tanaka

2012 [69]

Social-based

To investigate the effects of living with a communication robot on cognitive function and various physiological parameters in older women living alone

The communication robot which resembled a three-year-old boy, was programmed to engage in communication with the participants while the control robot had similar physical features but no verbal interaction.

Communication or control robot distributed by Kabochan Nodding Communication ROBOT.

40 older women living alone in their own homes in Osaka, Japan. 

24h x 8 weeks

(1344 hours)

Control robot was not designed to talk or nod.

Face to face Group

Tesky

2011 [70]

Education/

awareness building

To investigate the effects of leisure activities on cognitive performance of healthy older subjects

The intervention groups received training in the AKTIVA program, but the second intervention group received additional nutritional education and a physical exercise program. Participants in the second intervention group also underwent physical check-ups, introductory courses in various physical activities, a nutrition workshop and were required to maintain a movement diary.

—

Senior social clubs and community centers,

1x weekly + 2 booster sessions x 8 weeks

Booklet pertaining to the training topics at the end of intervention

Face to face Group

Vidovich 2015 [71]

Education/

awareness building

To clarify whether a group cognitive activity strategy training program would decrease the 2-year rate of cognitive decline of people with mild cognitive impairment

Program focused on age-associated changes in cognition and provided activities to enhance attention, memory, and executive function. The sessions incorporated cognitive rehabilitation, stimulation, and training.

Clinical neuropsychologist and research assistants

Community volunteers living with mild cognitive impairment.

2x weekly (15 hours)

A 5-week program or more generalized presentations on healthy ageing and retirement 

Face to face

Group

Zimmermann 2014 [72]

Arts-based

To verify whether differences between two approaches (structured working memory program, poetry-based simulation program) exists.

Working memory sessions emphasised on basic processing components initially but progressively increased to incorporate more demanding abilities over time. With poetry-based stimulation, which was led by a professor and a student of languages and literature, focused on improving reading and interpretation abilities of poetry. The participants read poems, listened to songs, visualised related pictures and discussed subjective meanings and main ideas.

Clinicians, psychologist students, professor, student of Languages and Literature.

—

1 x weekly (12 hours)

—

Face to face

Group