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40/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 40 out of 100. Prevention trials

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

This study aimed to examine the effects of aerobic and strength training methodologies, either combined with or without cognitive training, on mitigating cognitive decline. A total of 154 subjects were recruited (72.8 ± 6.1 years, 69% females) and were divided into four groups: i) strength plus cognitive training (STCT, n = 56); ii) strength training (ST, n = 23); iii) aerobic training (AT, n = 41); and iv) aerobic plus cognitive training (ATCT, n = 34). Subjects were previously cognitively assessed and showed cognitive decline (less than 26 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA). For 12 weeks, all groups performed 3 times a week, for 60 minutes, a training program corresponding to their attributed group. The MoCA test and the Senior Fitness test were applied at the beginning and the end of the intervention. A repeated-measures ANCOVA revealed significant time-by-group interactions for physical performance measures, including the 2-minute step-in-place (p = 0.026), arm curl (p < 0.001), chair sit-and-reach (p < 0.001), back-scratch (p < 0.001), 8-foot up-and-go (p < 0.001), and 6-minute walk tests (p < 0.001). However, no significant improvements were observed for cognitive function (MoCA, p = 0.242) or lower body strength (chair stand, p = 0.411). The AT group showed greater improvements in upper body strength compared to STCT and ST (p < 0.001; d = 0.698; p = 0.004; d = 0.598), while STCT significantly improved flexibility compared to ATCT (p < 0.001; d = 1.049). ATCT had the greatest improvements in aerobic endurance compared to STCT and ST (p = 0.004; d = 0.133; p < 0.001; d = 0.350). It was demonstrated that aerobic and strength training significantly improved overall physical performance in elderly individuals. However, no significant effects were observed on cognitive performance. Although these findings suggest that both aerobic and strength exercise, with or without cognitive training, improve overall physical fitness, further research is needed to determine its impact on cognitive performance.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Silva, A. F., Clemente, F. M., Roriz, M. S., Azevedo, J., Jovanovic, O., Adamovic, M., et al. (2025). The Effect of Aerobic or Strength Training in Elderly with Cognitive Decline: The Fit4Alz Project. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2025.172

Vancouver

Silva AF, Clemente FM, Roriz MS, Azevedo J, Jovanovic O, Adamovic M, et al. The Effect of Aerobic or Strength Training in Elderly with Cognitive Decline: The Fit4Alz Project. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2025. doi:10.52082/jssm.2025.172. PMID: 40046223.

BibTeX

@article{silva2025-40046223,
  author  = {Silva, Ana Filipa and Clemente, Filipe Manuel and Roriz, Mafalda Sofia and Azevedo, José and Jovanovic, Olivera and Adamovic, Marko and Bozic, Aleksandar and Silva, Rui},
  title   = {{The Effect of Aerobic or Strength Training in Elderly with Cognitive Decline: The Fit4Alz Project}},
  journal = {Journal of Sports Science and Medicine},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.52082/jssm.2025.172},
  pmid    = {40046223},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2025.172}
}

Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.

Key findings

A repeated-measures ANCOVA revealed significant time-by-group interactions for physical performance measures, including the 2-minute step-in-place (p = 0.026), arm curl (p < 0.001), chair sit-and-reach (p < 0.001), back-scratch (p < 0.001), 8-foot up-and-go (p < 0.001), and 6-minute walk tests (p < 0.001).
However, no significant improvements were observed for cognitive function (MoCA, p = 0.242) or lower body strength (chair stand, p = 0.411).
The AT group showed greater improvements in upper body strength compared to STCT and ST (p < 0.001; d = 0.698; p = 0.004; d = 0.598), while STCT significantly improved flexibility compared to ATCT (p < 0.001; d = 1.049).
ATCT had the greatest improvements in aerobic endurance compared to STCT and ST (p = 0.004; d = 0.133; p < 0.001; d = 0.350).
It was demonstrated that aerobic and strength training significantly improved overall physical performance in elderly individuals.

Why it matters

In this 12-week study of 154 older adults with cognitive decline, aerobic and strength training improved physical performance measures but produced no significant improvement in cognitive function. It found no cognitive benefit from the exercise programs tested.

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Study details

Participants56
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 40/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Sports Science and Medicine)
Journal's citation record	0 / 4	Journal of Sports Science and Medicine: journal h-index 31 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	1 / 5	Rated “low” 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	1 / 4	56 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	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	2 / 7	Cited 7 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	1 / 5	2.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 4.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	1 / 6	Cited by 1 other studies in this library
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	1 / 4	Last-listed author Rui Silva: h-index 18 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	0 / 3	Universidade Politécnica de Viana do Castelo: institution h-index 118 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40046223)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	40 / 100	—

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