Exercise interventions for cognitive function in adults older than 50: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Joseph Michael Northey; Nicolas Cherbuin; Kate Louise Pumpa; Disa Jane Smee; Ben Rattray

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096587

journal article Apr 24, 2017

Exercise interventions for cognitive function in adults older than 50: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Joseph Michael Northey

Nicolas Cherbuin

Kate Louise Pumpa Disa Jane Smee

Ben Rattray

British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 52 No. 3 pp. 154-160 · BMJ

View at Publisher Save 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096587

Abstract

Background
Physical exercise is seen as a promising intervention to prevent or delay cognitive decline in individuals aged 50 years and older, yet the evidence from reviews is not conclusive.

Objectives
To determine if physical exercise is effective in improving cognitive function in this population.

Design
Systematic review with multilevel meta-analysis.

Data sources
Electronic databases Medline (PubMed), EMBASE (Scopus), PsychINFO and CENTRAL (Cochrane) from inception to November 2016.

Eligibility criteria
Randomised controlled trials of physical exercise interventions in community-dwelling adults older than 50 years, with an outcome measure of cognitive function.

Results
The search returned 12 820 records, of which 39 studies were included in the systematic review. Analysis of 333 dependent effect sizes from 36 studies showed that physical exercise improved cognitive function (0.29; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.41; p<0.01). Interventions of aerobic exercise, resistance training, multicomponent training and tai chi, all had significant point estimates. When exercise prescription was examined, a duration of 45–60 min per session and at least moderate intensity, were associated with benefits to cognition. The results of the meta-analysis were consistent and independent of the cognitive domain tested or the cognitive status of the participants.

Conclusions
Physical exercise improved cognitive function in the over 50s, regardless of the cognitive status of participants. To improve cognitive function, this meta-analysis provides clinicians with evidence to recommend that patients obtain both aerobic and resistance exercise of at least moderate intensity on as many days of the week as feasible, in line with current exercise guidelines.

Topics

No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →

References

74

[1]

10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015249

[2]

Erickson "Physical activity and brain plasticity in late adulthood" Dialogues Clin Neurosci (2013) 10.31887/dcns.2013.15.1/kerickson

[3]

10.1076/jcen.25.5.625.14576

[4]

10.1001/jama.292.12.1447

[5]

10.1113/expphysiol.2009.048512

[6]

10.1111/1467-9280.t01-1-01430

[7]

10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03323.x

[8]

The Effect of Exercise Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Nicola Gates, Maria A. Fiatarone Singh, Perminder S Sachdev et al.

The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.02.018

[9]

Kelly "The impact of exercise on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis" Ageing Res Rev (2014) 10.1016/j.arr.2014.05.002

[10]

Young "Aerobic exercise to improve cognitive function in older people without known cognitive impairment" Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2015)

[11]

10.1136/bjsports-2015-095699

[12]

10.1249/mss.0b013e3181a0c95c

[13]

WHO. Global recommendations on physical activity for health. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2010.

[14]

Gothe "Yoga and cognition: a meta-analysis of chronic and acute effects" Psychosom Med (2015) 10.1097/psy.0000000000000218

[15]

Wayne "Effect of Tai Chi on cognitive performance in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis" J Am Geriatr Soc (2014) 10.1111/jgs.12611

[16]

Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement

D. Moher, A. Liberati, J. Tetzlaff et al.

BMJ 10.1136/bmj.b2535

[17]

Cardiovascular fitness, cortical plasticity, and aging

Stanley J. Colcombe, Arthur F. Kramer, KIRK I. ERICKSON et al.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 10.1073/pnas.0400266101

[18]

10.1093/geronb/gbs069

[19]

Babaei "Effect of six weeks of endurance exercise and following detraining on serum brain derived neurotrophic factor and memory performance in middle aged males with metabolic syndrome" J Sports Med Phys Fitness (2013)

[20]

Tsai "The effects of long-term resistance exercise on the relationship between neurocognitive performance and GH, IGF-1, and homocysteine levels in the elderly" Front Behav Neurosci (2015) 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00023

[21]

Yoon DH , Kang D , Kim HJ , et al . Effect of elastic band-based high-speed power training on cognitive function, physical performance and muscle strength in older women with mild cognitive impairment. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016.doi:10.1111/ggi.12784 10.1111/ggi.12784

[22]

ACSM. ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013.

[23]

10.1016/j.jsams.2009.09.008

[24]

10.1097/psy.0b013e3181d14633

[25]

Higgins J , Green S , The Cochrane Collaboration. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2011.

[26]

R Core Team. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: R foundation for statistical computing, 2012. ISBN 3-900051-07-0, 2014.

[27]

Feature Selection with theBorutaPackage

Miron B. Kursa, Witold R. Rudnicki

Journal of Statistical Software 10.18637/jss.v036.i11

[28]

Weisz "Performance of evidence-based youth psychotherapies compared with usual clinical care: a multilevel meta-analysis" JAMA Psychiatry (2013) 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.1176

[29]

Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses

Julian P T Higgins, Simon G Thompson, Jonathan J Deeks et al.

BMJ 10.1136/bmj.327.7414.557

[30]

Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test

Matthias Egger, George Davey Smith, Martin Schneider et al.

BMJ 10.1136/bmj.315.7109.629

[31]

10.1093/aobpla/plv119

[32]

Recommendations for examining and interpreting funnel plot asymmetry in meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials

J. A. C. Sterne, A. J. Sutton, J. P. A. Ioannidis et al.

BMJ 10.1136/bmj.d4002

[33]

10.1136/bmj.328.7454.1490

[34]

10.1093/geronj/44.5.m147

[35]

10.1037/0882-7974.4.3.307

[36]

10.1001/archinternmed.2009.494

[37]

10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.05.010

[38]

10.1001/archinternmed.2012.379

[39]

10.1136/bjsports-2013-093184

[40]

10.1073/pnas.1015950108

[41]

10.1002/hbm.22119

[42]

10.1007/s00421-010-1393-y

[43]

10.1093/geront/30.2.184

[44]

10.1055/s-2002-33735

[45]

10.1037/0882-7974.7.4.643

[46]

Mortimer "Changes in brain volume and cognition in a randomized trial of exercise and social interaction in a community-based sample of non-demented Chinese elders" J Alzheimers Dis (2012) 10.3233/jad-2012-120079

[47]

Moul "Physical activity and cognitive performance in the older population" J Aging Phys Act (1995) 10.1123/japa.3.2.135

[48]

Muscari "Chronic endurance exercise training prevents aging-related cognitive decline in healthy older adults: a randomized controlled trial" Int J Geriatr Psychiatry (2010) 10.1002/gps.2462

[49]

10.2466/pms.72.1.251-256

[50]

Albinet "Executive functions improvement following a 5-month aquaerobics program in older adults: role of cardiac vagal control in inhibition performance" Biol Psychol (2016) 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.01.010

Showing 50 of 74 references

Cited By

1,090

The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Facial Affect Recognition in Older Adults Versus Younger Adults

Samantha L. DuBois, Jennifer L. Etnier · 2026

Journal of Sport and Exercise Psych...

Effects of care partner type on outcomes from a multicomponent behavioral intervention for mild cognitive impairment

Stephanie Aghamoosa, Gelan Ying · 2026

Alzheimer's & Dementia: Transla...

Combined Physical–Cognitive Therapies for the Health of Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Juan Miguel Muñoz-Perete, María del Carmen Carcelén-Fraile · 2025

Healthcare

Implementing a Digital Physical Activity Intervention for Older Adults: Qualitative Study

Cherish Boxall, Laura Dennison · 2025

JMIR Aging

Effects of exergaming with a resistance component versus traditional resistance training on sarcopenia in pre-frail and frail nursing home residents: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Tai Wa Liu, Bonny Y. M. Wong · 2025

European Geriatric Medicine

Validation of a Community-Based Approach Toward Personalized Dementia Risk Reduction: The Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health and Wellness

Nicole D. Anderson, D. D'Amico · 2024

The Journal of Prevention of Alzhei...

Current and Future Treatments of Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Bonaventure Yiu Ming Ip, Ho Ko · 2024

Stroke

Exercise induces tissue-specific adaptations to enhance cardiometabolic health

Stephen P. Ashcroft, Ben Stocks · 2024

Cell Metabolism

Intrinsic functional brain connectivity changes following aerobic exercise, computerized cognitive training, and their combination in physically inactive healthy late-middle-aged adults: the Projecte Moviment

Stavros I. Dimitriadis, Alba Castells-Sánchez · 2023

GeroScience

Physical activity for cognitive health promotion: An overview of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms

Chong Chen, Shin Nakagawa · 2023

Ageing Research Reviews

Addressing the Chronic Pain–Early Cognitive Decline Comorbidity Among Older Adults: Protocol for the Active Brains Remote Efficacy Trial

Ana-Maria Vranceanu, Nathaniel R Choukas · 2023

JMIR Research Protocols

Effect of very low-intensity resistance exercise with slow movement and tonic force generation on post-exercise inhibitory control

Kento Dora, Tadashi Suga · 2021

Heliyon

Combined physical and cognitive training for older adults with and without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Hanna Malmberg Gavelin, Christopher Dong · 2021

Ageing Research Reviews

Impact of Combined Photo-Biomodulation and Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Function and Quality-of-Life in Elderly Alzheimer Patients with Anemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Ebtesam N Nagy, Ahmed Y Ali · 2021

International Journal of General Me...

Resistance training improves cognitive function in older adults with different cognitive status: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

Helio Coelho-Junior, Emanuele Marzetti · 2020

Aging & Mental Health

Effects of Aerobic Exercise, Cognitive and Combined Training on Cognition in Physically Inactive Healthy Late-Middle-Aged Adults: The Projecte Moviment Randomized Controlled Trial

Francesca Roig-Coll, Alba Castells-Sánchez · 2020

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Functional and/or structural brain changes in response to resistance exercises and resistance training lead to cognitive improvements – a systematic review

Fabian Herold, Alexander Törpel · 2019

European Review of Aging and Physic...

Diet, endocannabinoids, and health

Bruce A. Watkins · 2019

Nutrition Research

Three months of multimodal training contributes to mobility and executive function in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment, but not in those with Alzheimer's disease: A randomized controlled trial

Felipe de Oliveira Silva, José Vinícius Ferreira · 2019

Maturitas

Metrics

1,090

Citations

74

References

Details

Published: Apr 24, 2017
Vol/Issue: 52(3)
Pages: 154-160

Authors

J

Joseph Michael Northey

UC Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia; Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia

N

Nicolas Cherbuin

Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

K

Kate Louise Pumpa

UC Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia; Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia

D

Disa Jane Smee

Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia

B

Ben Rattray

UC Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia; Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia

Cite This Article

Joseph Michael Northey, Nicolas Cherbuin, Kate Louise Pumpa, et al. (2017). Exercise interventions for cognitive function in adults older than 50: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(3), 154-160. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096587

Exercise interventions for cognitive function in adults older than 50: a systematic review with meta-analysis

You May Also Like