Review | Date of search | Population included in the review | Intervention addressed in the review | Comparison intervention | Measures of ADL | Quality of the review (AMSTAR) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-pharmacological interventions | ||||||
Forbes | Oct 2013 | Older people (over 65 years of age) and diagnosed as having dementia using accepted criteria Mean age ranged from 73 to 89 Baseline MMSE ranged from 8 to 23 | Exercise programmes | Usual care or social contact/activities | Barthel ADL index, Katz Index of ADLs, Changes in Advanced Dementia Scale | 10/11 |
Van't Leven | Jan 2012 | Older people (aged 65 years or more) with a diagnosis of dementia. Participants were included if they were living in informal carers in the community and excluded if they were living in residential care settings. Mean age not reported though inclusion criteria states >65. Participants had mild-to-moderate severity dementia. | Dyadic interventions | Not specified | Barthel Index AMPS IDDD Functional Dependence Scale | 5/11 |
Neal | Aug 2005 | Older people (aged over 65 years) diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other forms of cognitive impairment Nursing home residents with BPSD. Mean age 88. | Validation therapy (affirming the person's beliefs and experiences) | Usual care or alternative intervention (eg, social contact group) | Not specified | 7/11 |
Orgeta | Jan 2013 | Older people (aged over 65 years) diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia Mean age range 75–76 Mean MMSE range 22–24 | Psychological treatments for depression and anxiety | Usual care or non-specific psychosocial therapy | Bristol Activities of Daily Living ADSC-ADL | 8/11 |
Reilly | March 2014 | Diagnosis of dementia of any subtype and of any severity Mean age range 78–80 Most participants had mild-to-moderate severity dementia | Case management | Usual care or alternative intervention | Everyday Abilities Scale for India ADCS-ADL Barthel Index | 9/11 |
Ueda | Feb 2011 | Diagnosis of dementia of any type according to accepted criteria. Mean age 83 Severity not reported | Music therapy | Not specified | Barthel Index | 7/11 |
Woods | Dec 2011 | Diagnosis of dementia or any subtype and of any severity. Mean age range 74–85 Mean MMSE range 20–22 | Cognitive stimulation intervention targeting cognitive and social functioning | No treatment, usual care or placebo | Barthel Index IADL Stewart ADL Scale | 10/11 |
Bahar Fuchs | Nov 2012 | Diagnosis of dementia. Targeting people with minimal, mild or moderate dementia (MMSE>12) Mean age was 78 in the studies reporting this info. Baseline MMSE range 23–25/30 | Cognitive training or cognitive rehabilitation | No treatment, usual care, wait list control or active control | Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scales Physical Self Maintenance Scale Bayer Activities of Daily Living Scale | 8/11 |
Forbes | Jan 2014 | Diagnosis of dementia (all types considered) according to accepted criteria Mean age 85, all participants were nursing home residents | Light therapy | Not specified | Nurse-Informant Activities of Daily Living Measure | 10/11 |
Forrester | Jan 2014 | Diagnosis of dementia of any subtype and of any severity Mean age 85 Nursing home residents with agitation for >4 weeks | Aromatherapy | Placebo aromatherapy | Barthel ADL Scale | 9/11 |
Liu | Sept 2012 | Older people (over 65 years of age) and diagnosed as having dementia using accepted criteria Mean age range 73–79 MMSE not reported in two of the three studies in the review. The third study involved people with mild Alzheimer's disease | Mealtime interventions (incl. nutritional supplementation) | Not specified | ADCS-ADL | 8/11 |
Pharmacological interventions | ||||||
Tan | Nov 2013 | Diagnosis of probable or possible Alzheimer's disease consistent with accepted criteria Mean age participants 76 Five of the trials included people with mild-to-moderate dementia. Seven trials included people with severe dementia | Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine | Placebo | ADCS-ADL | 7/11 |
Chau | June 2014 | Clinical diagnosis of mild, moderate or severe AD Population age and severity not described | Latrepirdine | Placebo | ADCS-ADL | 10/11 |
Jansen | June 2009 | Diagnosis of dementia of any subtype and of any severity Mean age 85–86 Moderate severity dementia | Melatonin | Placebo or no treatment | Nurse-Informant Activities of Daily Living Measure | 8/11 |
McCleery | March 2013 | People who had both:
Mean MMSE range 11–14 | Pharmacotherapies for sleep | Placebo | Katz Index | 10/11 |
McGuinness | Jan 2014 | Patients with a diagnosis of probable or possible AD according to accepted criteria. Mean age 74–79 Mild-to-moderate severity dementia | Statins | Placebo | ADCS-ADL ADFACS | 7/11 |
Birks | July 2002 | Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease Mean age ranged from 70 to 83 in the studies reporting ADL outcomes Studies included people with mild-to-moderate dementia | Selegeline | Placebo | Unclear | 9/11 |
Birks | March 2010 | People with unclassified dementia, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia or mixed dementia Mean age ranged from 74 to 80 in the studies reporting ADL outcomes Studies included people with mild-to-moderate dementia | Nimodipine | Placebo | Unclear | 9/11 |
Higgins | May 2004 | Diagnosis of dementia of any type Mean age 74 years Mild-to-moderate severity | Lecithin | Placebo | PADL Scale | 9/11 |
Alternative therapies | ||||||
Yang | June 2013 | Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. People with other forms of dementia were excluded. All studies but one conducted in China Age range 50–85 Details regarding severity of dementia not reported | Huperzine A | No treatment, usual care or placebo. | Activities of Daily Living Scale ADCS-ADL | 9/11 |
Tan | March 2014 | Diagnosis of dementia of any type or people with mild cognitive impairment Mean age 65–82 Most participants had mild-to-moderate severity dementia | Gingko biloba | Placebo | ADL-IS GBS-ADL | 3/11 |
Lee | Aug 2008 | Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease Population details not reported except to state that one of the two trials included people with mild-to-moderate severity AD | Acupuncture | Usual care or alternative intervention | Not specified | 6/11 |
Li | April 2014 | Diagnosis of probable or possible Alzheimer's disease consistent with the DSM-IV Mean age ranged from 75 to 78 Mean MMSE range 19–24/30 | Vitamins B supplementation | Not specified | ADL Scale IADL Scale ADCS-ADL | 7/11 |
NR, not reported.
ADL, activities of daily living; ADFAC, Alzheimer's disease functional assessment and change Scale; ADSC, Alzheimer's disease co-operative study; AMPS, Assessment of Motor and Process Skills; BPSD, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia; DSM-IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome; IADL, instrumental activities of daily living Scale; IDDD, Interview for deterioration in daily living activities; MMSE, mini-mental state examination; PADL, physical ADL.