Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
07:01
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
5.3K
Exercise interventions for cognitive function in adults older than 50: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Joseph Michael Northey1,2, Nicolas Cherbuin3, Kate Louise Pumpa1,2
1UC Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia.
British Journal of Sports Medicine
|April 26, 2017
Summary
Regular physical exercise significantly enhances cognitive function in adults over 50. This includes aerobic, resistance, and multicomponent training, benefiting all cognitive statuses.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Cognitive Health
- Exercise Science and Public Health
Background:
- Physical exercise is a potential intervention for age-related cognitive decline in individuals aged 50 and older.
- Existing review evidence on exercise efficacy for cognitive function in this demographic is inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of physical exercise interventions in improving cognitive function among adults aged 50 years and older.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Searched major databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsychINFO, Cochrane) up to November 2016.
- Included studies focused on community-dwelling adults >50 years with cognitive function outcome measures.
Main Results:
- 39 studies (36 with data) involving 333 effect sizes demonstrated that physical exercise significantly improves cognitive function (effect size 0.29; 95% CI 0.17-0.41).
- Aerobic exercise, resistance training, multicomponent training, and Tai Chi interventions all showed significant positive effects.
- Optimal benefits were associated with exercise sessions of 45-60 minutes at moderate intensity, irrespective of cognitive domain or participant status.
Conclusions:
- Physical exercise demonstrably improves cognitive function in adults over 50, regardless of their baseline cognitive status.
- Clinicians can recommend a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise at moderate intensity, performed frequently, to enhance cognitive function in older adults.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
1.0K
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
1.0K
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
288
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
288
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
277
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
277
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
328
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
328