A systematic review and meta-analysis revealed a significant association between short-term (less than a year) multidomain treatments with improvements in verbal fluency, memory, executive function, and global cognition contrasted to single interventions for mild cognitive impairment (MCI).  Talia Salzman et al. aimed to assess whether multidomain interventions are linked with better cognition enhancement in older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Electronic databases like Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycInfo, Embase, and MEDLINE were searched. Studies containing randomized trials, older adults (65 years and older), diagnosis of MCI, and multidomain nonpharmacological strategies that were comparatively evaluated with single active control were incorporated.

For calculating effect sizes from standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval, random-effects meta-analyses was carried out. A comparison of postintervention cognitive test scores in seven cognitive domains was done amid multidomain and single-domain groups. An assessment of the exposure to the treatment was done.

Overall, 28 studies incorporating 2711 older adults suffering from MCI, reported greater effect sizes in the multidomain group for verbal fluency (SMD= 0.30), memory (SMD= 0.29), executive function (SMD= 0.20), and global cognition (SMD= 0.41). The multidomain group was favored by Wechsler Memory Scale-Logical Memory I (SMD= 0.47) and II (SMD= 0.26), Trail Making Test-B (SMD= 0.46), category verbal fluency test (SMD= 0.34), and Mini-Mental State Examination (SMD= 0.40). 

The treatment exposure varied between studies: the mean duration was found to be 71.3 (36.0) minutes for 19.8 (14.6) weeks with sessions occurring 2.5 (1.1) times a week. All the treatments prevailed for less than 1 year. Hence, multidomain interventions, composed of two or more interventions, yielded better cognitive outcomes compared with single interventions for MCI management.