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Effective dosage and mode of exercise for enhancing cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and dementia: a systematic review and Bayesian Model-Based Network Meta-analysis of RCTs
Yuan Y, Yang Y, Hu X, Zhang L, Xiong Z, Bai Y, et al.. BMC Geriatrics, 2024-06-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objective Research the dose-response relationship between overall and certain types of exercise and cognitive function in older adults with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Design Systemic and Bayesian Model-Based Network Meta-Analysis. Methods In our study, we analyzed data from randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of different exercises on cognitive outcomes in older adults with AD. We searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase up to November 2023. Using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (Rob2) for quality assessment and R software with the MBNMA package for data analysis, we determined standard mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CrI) to evaluate exercise's impact on cognitive function in AD. Results Twenty-seven studies with 2,242 AD patients revealed a nonlinear relationship between exercise and cognitive improvement in AD patients. We observed significant cognitive enhancements at an effective exercise dose of up to 1000 METs-min/week (SMDs: 0.535, SD: 0.269, 95% CrI: 0.023 to 1.092). The optimal dose was found to be 650 METs-min/week (SMDs: 0.691, SD: 0.169, 95% CrI: 0.373 to 1.039), with AE (Aerobic exercise) being particularly effective. For AE, the optimal cognitive enhancement dose was determined to be 660 METs-min/week (SMDs: 0.909, SD: 0.219, 95% CrI: 0.495 to 1.362). Conclusion Nonlinear dose-response relationship between exercise and cognitive improvement in Alzheimer's disease, with the optimal AE dose identified at 660 METs-min/week for enhancing cognitive function in AD.
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APA 7th
Yuan, Y., Yang, Y., Hu, X., Zhang, L., Xiong, Z., Bai, Y., et al. (2024). Effective dosage and mode of exercise for enhancing cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and dementia: a systematic review and Bayesian Model-Based Network Meta-analysis of RCTs. BMC Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05060-8
Vancouver
Yuan Y, Yang Y, Hu X, Zhang L, Xiong Z, Bai Y, et al. Effective dosage and mode of exercise for enhancing cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and dementia: a systematic review and Bayesian Model-Based Network Meta-analysis of RCTs. BMC Geriatrics. 2024. doi:10.1186/s12877-024-05060-8. PMID: 38824515.
BibTeX
@article{yuan2024-38824515,
author = {Yuan, Y. and Yang, Y. and Hu, X. and Zhang, L. and Xiong, Z. and Bai, Y. and others},
title = {{Effective dosage and mode of exercise for enhancing cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and dementia: a systematic review and Bayesian Model-Based Network Meta-analysis of RCTs}},
journal = {BMC Geriatrics},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1186/s12877-024-05060-8},
pmid = {38824515},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05060-8}
}
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Key findings
- Objective Research the dose-response relationship between overall and certain types of exercise and cognitive function in older adults with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
- Results Twenty-seven studies with 2,242 AD patients revealed a nonlinear relationship between exercise and cognitive improvement in AD patients.
- We observed significant cognitive enhancements at an effective exercise dose of up to 1000 METs-min/week (SMDs: 0.535, SD: 0.269, 95% CrI: 0.023 to 1.092).
Why it matters
This meta-analysis of 27 studies with 2,242 Alzheimer's disease patients found a nonlinear relationship between exercise and cognitive improvement, with the best results at a dose of 650 METs-min/week and aerobic exercise appearing particularly effective. It suggests that specific exercise doses may help cognitive function in people who already have Alzheimer's disease, but it does not show that exercise prevents or cures the disease.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Participants2,242
- Effect sizeSMD 0.691 (95% CrI 0.373-1.039) at 650 MET-min/week; aerobic SMD 0.909 (0.495-1.362) at 660 MET-min/week
- Evidence strengthEarly
Limitations
Small, heterogeneous trials, many at risk of bias; model-based dose estimates depend on assumptions; cognitive scales differ across trials.
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. We have no data on free to read, so that was left out: it earned 63 of the 98 points we could judge it on, which is 64 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (BMC Geriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | BMC Geriatrics: journal h-index 153 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 2 / 5 | Rated “early” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2024 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 2,242 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 32 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.0 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 32 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Xu Feng: h-index 7 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Sichuan University: institution h-index 720 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38824515) |
| Free to read | — / 2 | Access not recorded — left out of this score |
| Points | 63 / 98 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 63 of the 98 points we could judge it on is 64 out of 100. |
| Total | 64 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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