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Meta-Analysis
. 2019 Jul:79:119-130.
doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.03.007. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Impact of exercise training on physical and cognitive function among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ryan S Falck  1 , Jennifer C Davis  2 , John R Best  1 , Rachel A Crockett  1 , Teresa Liu-Ambrose  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Impact of exercise training on physical and cognitive function among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ryan S Falck et al. Neurobiol Aging. 2019 Jul.

Abstract

Exercise plays a key role in healthy aging by promoting both physical and cognitive function. Physical function and cognitive function appear to be interrelated and may share common mechanisms. Thus, exercise-induced improvements in physical function and cognitive function may co-occur and be associated with each other. However, no systematic review has specifically assessed and compared the effects of exercise on both physical function and cognitive function in older adults, and the association between changes in both outcomes after exercise training. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (N = 48 studies) among older adults (60+ years). These data suggest exercise training has a significant benefit for both physical function (g = 0.39; p < 0.001) and cognitive function (g = 0.24; p < 0.001). At the study level, there was a positive correlation between the size of the exercise-induced effect on physical function and on cognitive function (b = 0.41; p = 0.002). Our results indicate exercise improves both physical and cognitive function, reiterating the notion that exercise is a panacea for aging well.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Exercise; Meta-analysis; Older adults; Physical function.

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