Information quality of Alzheimer's disease treatment videos on TikTok and related factors: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

The increasing reliance on mobile internet for health information necessitates a critical evaluation of content quality. This study aimed to systematically assess the quality of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) treatment-related short videos on TikTok, a leading platform for health information dissemination.

METHOD: A total of 100 CE treatment videos from TikTok, retrieved on December 20, 2025, were comprehensively evaluated using established assessment tools. Specifically, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteriaand themodified Decision-making Information Support Criteria for Evaluating the Reliability of Non-randomised Studies (mDIS) scorewere used to evaluate thereliabilityof the video content. TheGlobal Quality Score (GQS) was used to assess theoverall quality, and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audio Visual Content (PEMAT-A/U)was used to evaluate understandability and actionability.

RESULTS

Neurologists were identified as primary contributors of high-quality content, while videos on experimental treatments like deep cervical lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) generally exhibited lower quality. Videos from emerging first-tier cities and those uploaded by top-tier creators demonstrated superior audience engagement and often higher content quality. A significant positive correlation was found between video duration, audience engagement metrics, and content quality scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurologists play a crucial role in providing reliable AD treatment information on short video platforms. There is an urgent need to improve the quality of content on experimental treatments and to encourage longer, well-referenced videos. Platforms should enhance content moderation and explicitly label experimental therapies to ensure accurate and trustworthy public health education regarding AD.