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Effects of physical exercise on cognitive function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Biazus-Sehn LF, Schuch FB, Firth J, Stigger FS.. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, 2020-05-12
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background and purpose Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is associated with a greater risk of dementia for older adults. However, systematic reviews have shown that some physical exercise (PE) seems to improve MCI symptoms and signs. Those reviews and meta-analysis could not explain what possible moderator influenced their results. This meta-analysis aims to identify the effect of PE over older people's cognition with MCI and explore sources of heterogeneity. Methods Databases were searched from inception January 2020 for randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effects of PE over cognition of older persons with MCI. Random effect meta-analyses were performed for each cognitive outcome. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions models explored the potential sources of heterogeneity. Results A total of 2077 participants (mean age = 71.8 years) from 27 studies were included. PE improves global cognitive function (SMD = 0.348 [95 % CI 0.166 to 0.529]; p = 0.0001), executive function (SMD = 0.213 [95 % CI 0.026 to 0.400]; p = 0.026) and delayed recall (SMD = 0.180 [95 % CI 0.002 to 0.358]; p = 0.047). A trend towards beneficial effects of PE on verbal fluency (SMD = 0.270 [95 %, CI -0.021 to 0.561]; p = 0.069) and attention (SMD = 0.170 [CI -0.016 to 0.357]; p = 0.073) were also observed. Subgroup analyses showed a relationship between modality and intensity of physical exercise and changes observed in global cognitive function, executive function, delayed recall, verbal fluency and working memory. Discussion and conclusion PE can ameliorate cognitive deficts of older adults with MCI. The most pronounced effects appear to arise from other types of exercise that included mind-body exercises and moderate intensity.
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APA 7th
Biazus-Sehn, L. F., Schuch, F. B., Firth, J., & Stigger, F. S. (2020). Effects of physical exercise on cognitive function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2020.104048
Vancouver
Biazus-Sehn LF, Schuch FB, Firth J, Stigger FS. Effects of physical exercise on cognitive function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2020.104048. PMID: 32460123.
BibTeX
@article{biazussehn2020-32460123,
author = {Biazus-Sehn, L. F. and Schuch, F. B. and Firth, J. and Stigger, F. S.},
title = {{Effects of physical exercise on cognitive function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis}},
journal = {Archives of gerontology and geriatrics},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1016/j.archger.2020.104048},
pmid = {32460123},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2020.104048}
}
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Key findings
- Background and purpose Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is associated with a greater risk of dementia for older adults.
- However, systematic reviews have shown that some physical exercise (PE) seems to improve MCI symptoms and signs.
- Those reviews and meta-analysis could not explain what possible moderator influenced their results.
- Results A total of 2077 participants (mean age = 71.8 years) from 27 studies were included.
Why it matters
This meta-analysis of 27 studies with 2,077 participants found that physical exercise improved global cognitive function, executive function, and delayed recall in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, with trends toward benefit for verbal fluency and attention. It addresses cognitive function in people with mild cognitive impairment, not whether exercise prevents or cures Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Participants2,077
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of gerontology and geriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics: journal h-index 132 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 2,077 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 194 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 24.2 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 114 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Felipe Stigger: h-index 10 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Manchester: institution h-index 1,304 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32460123) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 64 / 100 | — |
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