Remote multicomponent intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment in community settings: multisite randomised controlled trial
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.
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BibTeX
@article{jang2026remote,
title = {{Remote multicomponent intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment in community settings: multisite randomised controlled trial}},
author = {Geon Young Jang and Sungyang Jo and Ji Yeon Baek and Eunju Lee and Sunghwan Ji and Il-Young Jang and Chan Mi Park},
journal = {Age and Ageing},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/ageing/afag310},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag310},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Remote multicomponent intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment in community settings: multisite randomised controlled trial
AU - Geon Young Jang
AU - Sungyang Jo
AU - Ji Yeon Baek
AU - Eunju Lee
AU - Sunghwan Ji
AU - Il-Young Jang
AU - Chan Mi Park
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Age and Ageing
DO - 10.1093/ageing/afag310
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag310
AB - 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.
SN - 0002-0729
SN - 1468-2834
ER -