Remote multicomponent intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment in community settings: multisite randomised controlled trial
In brief
Remote exercise and nutrition program boosts cognitive scores by 2.3 points
Among 140 adults aged 60 to 80 in South Korea, a six-month videoconference exercise and nutrition program improved cognitive screening scores by 2.3 points compared with usual health promotion; the advantage was 1.1 points at 12 months. Function and frailty measures also improved, with no reported intervention-related harms, but results from two health centers need broader testing.
- Journal
- Age and ageing (Q1)
- Published
- 3 August 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Geon Young Jang, Sungyang Jo, Ji Yeon Baek, Eunju Lee, Sunghwan Ji, Il-Young Jang, et al.
- PMID
- 42935252
- DOI
- 10.1093/ageing/afag310
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Rehabilitation (paper of the day, 28 October 2026): Remote multicomponent program improves MoCA‑K scores
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is common among community-dwelling older adults and represents a pragmatic target for community-level intervention. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a scalable, remotely delivered multicomponent intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment, integrated into community and primary care settings. METHODS: This 6-month, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial was performed at two public health centres in South Korea, enrolling adults aged 60-80 years with cognitive impairment and preserved functional independence. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to a videoconference-based exercise and nutritional support programme or to usual health promotion services. The primary outcome was change in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean version (MoCA-K) score at 6 months; secondary outcomes included cognitive, functional, physical performance, frailty and depressive measures at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Among 140 participants (mean age 75.0 years; 60% female), equal numbers were randomised to intervention and control groups. At 6 months, the intervention group showed greater improvement in MoCA-K scores compared to the control group [2.3 points; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-3.1], and the difference was sustained at 12 months (1.1 points; 95% CI 0.3-2.0). The intervention was also associated with improvements in functional status and frailty at both time points. No intervention-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: A remotely delivered multicomponent intervention improved cognition, functional independence and frailty in older adults with cognitive impairment identified through community-based screening. These findings support the effectiveness of scalable interventions integrated into community and primary care settings, particularly when access to in-person care is limited. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), KCT0004547; https://cris.nih.go.kr; registered on 12 December 2019.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.