Reminiscence therapy improved cognition, but results differed across cognitive abilities
A trial review in older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia reported mixed results across cognitive outcomes.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Across the included trials, reminiscence therapy improved overall cognitive function, and the reported benefit persisted at follow-up. Memory, depression and quality of life also improved, while executive function did not show improvement. The abstract provides no effect sizes, so it cannot show how noticeable these changes were in daily life.
The abstract gives neither effect sizes nor follow-up lengths and does not summarize evidence-quality ratings. This limits assessment of the size, durability and reliability of the reported benefits.
What researchers found
Cognitive function at follow-up
Reminiscence therapy versus standard care; the follow-up interval and numerical effect estimate were not reported.
Different cognitive outcomes
The review distinguished overall cognition from memory and executive function. Improvement in the broad cognitive outcome did not extend to every assessed ability, which matters when interpreting the authors' positive overall conclusion.
Subgroups need care
Cognitive improvements varied by age, session frequency and setting, with larger gains reported in nursing homes. These subgroup patterns may help explain differences between studies, but they do not establish an optimal program for an individual.
The original publication
The efficacy of reminiscence therapy on the cognition of older patients with cognitive impairment or dementia: a meta-analysis based on regulatory factors.
Wang S, Li K, Peng X et al.
Aging Clin Exp Res · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41514114
- Record checked
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