Comparative effectiveness of multiple interventions for Alzheimer’s disease on ABC syndromes and QoL: A Bayesian network meta-analysis

Evidence comparing directly pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is scarce. The ABC symptoms—activities of daily living (ADLs) (A), behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSs) (B), cognitive function (C), and quality of life (QoL)—are critical for diagnosing and assessing treatment effects in AD. This study aims to evaluate five interventions for AD: pharmacological therapy (PT), photobiomodulation (PBM), cognitive therapy (CT), exercise therapy (ET), and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) using a Bayesian network meta-analysis approach. Among 6,450 records screened, 91 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 12,242 participants met the inclusion criteria. PBM and rTMS showed significant benefits for cognitive function in AD patients. PT and CT showed notable effectiveness in enhancing activities of daily living. For QoL, CT and ET were identified as more favorable outcomes. Collectively, each intervention exerts unique merits targeting ABC symptoms and QoL, implying combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological regimens could optimize therapeutic gains for AD management.