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Optimal doses of cognitive digital therapeutics for pediatric patients with cognitive impairments: A retrospective study based on big data

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cognitive digital therapeutics (CDT) offer a promising non-pharmacological intervention for cognitive impairments in kids and teens (KTs). However, the optimal dosing parameters for CDT in pediatric populations remain unclear. This retrospective study aimed to identify the optimal CDT doses for KTs with cognitive impairments across gender and developmental stages, using real-world big data. A total of 38,526 pediatric patients with cognitive impairments who underwent CDT between 2021 and 2025 were included in the analysis. The study assessed cognitive improvement based on the Mean Cognitive Index across varying CDT doses, stratified by age (< 10 vs. ≥10 years) and gender. The optimal daily dose varied by gender and age: boys under 10 required 16–20 min, while girls needed 24–28 min. In the teen group (10–18 years), boys needed 20–24 min, while girls required 16–20 min. The optimal total dose decreased with age, from 6 to 7 months in boys under 10 to 4–5 months in teens, and from 8 to 9 months in girls to 1–2 months in teens. Higher-than-optimal daily digital training doses may lead to diminished cognitive gains. The optimal weekly dose was 7 days/week across all subgroups. This is the first large-scale study to define age- and gender-specific optimal CDT doses in pediatric patients with cognitive impairments. The findings provide robust evidence to support personalized CDT interventions and may inform future treatment guidelines.

Source: BMC Medicine

DOI: 10.1186/s12916-026-05080-8