Objective : The rising prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has spurred interest in innovative cognitive rehabilitation ap-proaches, including serious games. This review summarizes randomized clinical trials (RCTs) exploring the impact of serious games on MCI patients. Methods : We conducted a comprehensive data search using key terms such as “gamification,” “digital therapy,” “cognition,” “mild cogni-tive impairment,” and “Alzheimer’s disease.” We exclusively considered published RCTs, excluding animal studies and basic research. Results : We identified eight RCTs. Four RCTs examined the effects of serious games using cognitive training for MCI patients. Notably, one study found that non-specific training (Nintendo Wii) significantly enhanced cognitive function and quality of life compared to cognition-specific computer training (CoTras). Among the remaining three RCTs, one specifically demonstrated that personalized seri-ous game-based cognitive training yielded superior cognitive outcomes and reduced depressive symptoms. One RCT focused on serious games incorporating physical exercise, highlighting the effectiveness of kinetic-based exergaming in enhancing overall cognition. Three RCT focused on combined cognitive training and physical exercise. A double-blind RCT revealed that progressive resistance training or standalone physical exercise outperformed the combined approach in improving executive function and global cognition. Two addi-tional RCTs reported positive outcomes, including improvements in cognitive function and electroencephalogram patterns associated with game-based interventions. Conclusion : Serious games, whether focusing on cognitive training, physical exercise, or a combination of both, have potential to im-prove cognitive and functional outcomes in individuals with MCI. Further research and standardization of protocols are needed to bet-ter understand the full potential of serious games in MCI.
Objective : The rising prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has spurred interest in innovative cognitive rehabilitation ap-proaches, including serious games. This review summarizes randomized clinical trials (RCTs) exploring the impact of serious games on MCI patients. Methods : We conducted a comprehensive data search using key terms such as “gamification,” “digital therapy,” “cognition,” “mild cogni-tive impairment,” and “Alzheimer’s disease.” We exclusively considered published RCTs, excluding animal studies and basic research. Results : We identified eight RCTs. Four RCTs examined the effects of serious games using cognitive training for MCI patients. Notably, one study found that non-specific training (Nintendo Wii) significantly enhanced cognitive function and quality of life compared to cognition-specific computer training (CoTras). Among the remaining three RCTs, one specifically demonstrated that personalized seri-ous game-based cognitive training yielded superior cognitive outcomes and reduced depressive symptoms. One RCT focused on serious games incorporating physical exercise, highlighting the effectiveness of kinetic-based exergaming in enhancing overall cognition. Three RCT focused on combined cognitive training and physical exercise. A double-blind RCT revealed that progressive resistance training or standalone physical exercise outperformed the combined approach in improving executive function and global cognition. Two addi-tional RCTs reported positive outcomes, including improvements in cognitive function and electroencephalogram patterns associated with game-based interventions. Conclusion : Serious games, whether focusing on cognitive training, physical exercise, or a combination of both, have potential to im-prove cognitive and functional outcomes in individuals with MCI. Further research and standardization of protocols are needed to bet-ter understand the full potential of serious games in MCI.
INTRODUCTION DATA SEARCH RESULTS DISCUSSION
