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Identifying Exercise Interventions That May Slow the Progression of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review
Kerstin Castro, Jo Ann M. Bamdas, María Ortega, Mario Jacomino. Cureus, 2025-03-20
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as the stage between normal cognitive changes that may occur with age and more serious symptoms that indicate dementia. Symptoms of MCI can include problems with thinking, judgment, memory, and language, but the loss does not significantly interfere with the ability to handle everyday activities. A wide range of evidence demonstrates that aerobic, strength training, and combined exercises can slow the progression of cognitive impairment. However, few research studies in the United States exist, possibly due to an over-reliance on pharmacological intervention. To answer our research question, we performed a scoping review analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to locate published studies showing the types of exercise interventions using cognitive measures that benefit communities of older adults. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension Scoping Reviews guidelines, the authors searched five databases, namely, PubMed, GALE, Wiley Online Library, EBSCOHost, and OVID, for exercise intervention programs and slowing the progression of cognitive decline in older adults with MCI. All searches were performed between September 2022 and February 2023. In summary, we analyzed 10 international RCTs with 1,075 participants (mean age of over 50 years), but only 668 people were included in the control or experimental group. Combining exercise modalities in the intervention groups versus control groups prompted more beneficial results, improving global cognitive functioning. Resistance training shows promise as an exercise modality suitable for older adults to slow the progression of cognitive impairment.
Key findings
- Symptoms of MCI can include problems with thinking, judgment, memory, and language, but the loss does not significantly interfere with the ability to handle everyday activities.
- Combining exercise modalities in the intervention groups versus control groups prompted more beneficial results, improving global cognitive functioning.
Why it matters
This scoping review of randomized controlled trials found that combining exercise modalities improved global cognitive functioning compared with control groups in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. It supports exercise as a way to slow cognitive decline, though the authors note few such studies exist in the United States.
Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Participants1,075
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 54/100
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 (Cureus) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Cureus: journal h-index 131 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,075 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Mario Jacomino: h-index 5 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Miami: institution h-index 998 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40255800) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Castro, K., Bamdas, J. A. M., Ortega, M., & Jacomino, M. (2025). Identifying Exercise Interventions That May Slow the Progression of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.80895
Vancouver
Castro K, Bamdas JAM, Ortega M, Jacomino M. Identifying Exercise Interventions That May Slow the Progression of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review. Cureus. 2025. doi:10.7759/cureus.80895. PMID: 40255800.
BibTeX
@article{castro2025-40255800,
author = {Castro, Kerstin and Bamdas, Jo Ann M. and Ortega, María and Jacomino, Mario},
title = {{Identifying Exercise Interventions That May Slow the Progression of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review}},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.7759/cureus.80895},
pmid = {40255800},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.80895}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.