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Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

1,049 questions in 79 reviews · Dementia and Cognitive Improvement

current versions
No studies 240 · 22.9%Ungraded 31 · 3%Very low 216 · 20.6%Low 253 · 24.1%Moderate 238 · 22.7%High 71 · 6.8%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Cognitive training vs alternative treatment
Change in a global measure of cognition (composite) · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 73 participantsVery low
Cognitive training vs alternative treatment
Change in a global measure of cognition · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 73 participantsVery low
Cognitive training vs alternative treatment
Change in disease progression · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Cognitive training vs alternative treatment
Change in delayed memory · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 73 participantsVery low
Cognitive training vs alternative treatment
Change in participants' mood · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 39 participantsLow
Cognitive training vs alternative treatment
Change in capacity for activities of daily living · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Cognitive training vs alternative treatment
Change in mood and well‐being (caregiver) · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Cognitive training vs control immediately post intervention
Change in delayed memory · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 543 participantsVery low
Cognitive training vs control immediately post intervention
Change in participants' mood · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 577 participantsVery low
Cognitive training vs control immediately post intervention
Change in capacity for activities of daily living · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 687 participantsLow
Cognitive training vs control immediately post intervention
Participant burden (retention rates) · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
OR 0.73 [0.37, 1.43]17 studies · 1282 participantsLow
Cognitive training vs control immediately post intervention
Change in mood and well‐being (caregiver) · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 36 participantsModerate
Cognitive training vs control
Change in a global measure of cognition (composite) · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 387 participantsVery low
Cognitive training vs control
Change on global cognition (screening) (Global cog) · people with mild to moderate dementia
Cognitive training for people with mild to moderate dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 387 participantsVery low
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) vs no AAT
Affect and emotional well‐being: depression measured using CSDD (0–19, higher score indicates more severe depressive symptoms) · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 83 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Social functioning: duration of physical contact · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 68 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Social functioning: duration of talk directed at a person · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 68 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Social functioning: duration of talk in total · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 68 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Behaviour measured using NPI (0–144, higher score indicates more severe neuropsychiatric symptoms) · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 78 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Agitation and irritability · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Health‐related quality of life measured using QUALID (12–45, higher score indicates poorer quality of life) · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 78 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Adverse events · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Physical functioning: activities of daily living · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Affect and emotional well‐being: depression · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Social functioning: duration of physical contact · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 64 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) vs no AAT
Social functioning measured using MOSES, Withdrawn Behaviour subscale (8‐ 32, higher score indicates more severe withdrawn behaviour) · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 58 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Social functioning: duration of talk directed at a person · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 64 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Social functioning: duration of talk in total · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 64 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Behaviour · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Agitation and irritability · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Health‐related quality of life · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Adverse events · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs soft toy cat
Physical functioning: activities of daily living · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) vs no AAT
Behaviour measured using NHBPS (0–116, higher score indicates more severe behaviour problem), NPI (0–144, higher score indicates more severe neuropsychiatric symptoms) or MOSES Disoriented Behaviour subscale (8–32, higher score indicates more seve... · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 142 participantsVery low
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) vs no AAT
Agitation or irritability measured using CMAI (14–70, higher score indicates more severe agitation or irritability), BARS (10–70, higher score indicates more severe agitation or irritability) or MOSES Irritability subscale (9–36, higher score indi... · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 143 participantsVery low
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) vs no AAT
Health‐related quality of life measured using QUALID (12–45, higher score indicates poorer quality of life) · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 164 participantsModerate
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) vs no AAT
Adverse events · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) vs no AAT
Physical functioning, measured using Barthel Index for ADL (0–100, higher score indicates better abilities) · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 37 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) vs no AAT
Physical functioning: self‐care ability measured using MOSES Self‐Care Functioning subscale (8–32, higher score indicates poorer function) · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 58 participantsLow
Animal‐assisted therapy (AAT (live animal)) vs robotic animals
Affect and emotional well‐being: depression · dementia
Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia (2019) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Reminiscence Therapy vs no treatment
Quality of Life (self‐report) at end of treatment · people living with dementia
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 1060 participantsModerate
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Individual: communication at end of treatment · people living with dementia (modality)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 96 participantsVery low
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Group: quality of life (self‐reported) at end of treatment · people living with dementia (modality)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted7 studies · 1037 participantsHigh
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Group: cognition at end of treatment · people living with dementia (modality)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted9 studies · 1023 participantsHigh
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Group: communication at end of treatment · people living with dementia (modality)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 153 participantsModerate
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Care home: quality of life (self‐reported) at end of treatment · people living with dementia (setting)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 193 participantsModerate
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Care home: cognition at end of treatment · people living with dementia (setting)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 230 participantsModerate
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Care home: communication at end of treatment · people living with dementia (setting)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 184 participantsVery low
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Community: quality of life (self‐reported) at end of treatment · people living with dementia (setting)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 867 participantsHigh
Reminiscence therapy vs no treatment
Community: cognition at end of treatment · people living with dementia (setting)
Reminiscence therapy for dementia (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 989 participantsHigh