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In older adults with dementia, exergaming (integrating elements like simultaneous motor-cognitive training, scoring mechanism, and social play) may improve depressive symptoms.
In accordance with the findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis, exergaming, a form of interactive gaming that integrates both physical and cognitive exercises, may help support mental well-being in dementia. Given the rising prevalence of dementia and its associated mental health challenges, researchers are increasingly exploring innovative, engaging, and non-pharmacological interventions like exergaming to boost emotional stability.
An extensive literature search was executed using 5 databases: CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The methodological quality of the included studies was examined via RoB2 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and ROBINS-I for quasi-experimental studies. In total, 6 studies (4 RCTs and 2 quasi-experimental studies) with 235 participants at various stages of dementia were included.
As found, there was a significant reduction in depressive symptoms with a large effect size (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.46). Even with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 91%), all studies showed a trend of improvement in depressive symptoms following the intervention. The included studies revealed that exergames with the following elements were remarkably beneficial:
The intervention duration varied between studies, with sessions lasting 15 to 60 minutes, at least twice a week, for a minimum of 8 weeks. While exergames show potential in ameliorating depression among older adults with dementia, further rigorous research is needed to strengthen the evidence base. If validated in future studies, exergaming could emerge as a fun, engaging, and accessible intervention to support the mental well-being of individuals living with dementia.
Journal of Clinical Nursing
The Effects of Exergaming on the Depressive Symptoms of People With Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Daphne Sze Ki Cheung et al.
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