Effectiveness of lifestyle medicine on cognitive functions in mild cognitive impairments and dementia: A systematic review on randomized controlled trials

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia are associated with lifestyle risk factors, making lifestyle med-icine a potentially viable intervention for people with MCI and dementia. The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of lifestyle medicine on cognitive functions among people with MCI and dementia, by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials (RCT). A systematic literature search was conducted to extract RCTs adopting lifestyle interventions of diet, exercise, and stress management or emotional well-being. Results showed that 65 studies were eligible. Exercise was the most promising lifestyle intervention that improved various cognitive functions among people with MCI and dementia, and was more effective in MCI than in dementia. Interventions on stress management or emotional well-being did not show a significant effect on people with MCI, and the evidence for people with dementia was insufficient to conclude. Similarly, due to the lack of RCTs on a healthy dietary pattern, the effectiveness of diet interventions was not examined. In conclusion, the exercise component of lifestyle medicine can be an effective and clinically significant inter-vention for protecting people with MCI and dementia against cognitive declines, especially when served as an early intervention at the stage of MCI.

Automated summary

This study examines the effectiveness of lifestyle medicine on cognitive functions among people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The results show that exercise is the most promising lifestyle intervention that improves cognitive functions in MCI and dementia patients, with better results observed in MCI. Interventions on stress management or emotional well-being did not have a significant effect on MCI patients, and there is insufficient evidence to conclude for dementia patients.