Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Function in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review and...

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise on cognitive function in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and to identify the optimal exercise prescription. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane, and Scopus was conducted through 13 May 2025. The Cochrane risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: Twenty studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which six were rated as high quality and eleven as moderate quality. A meta-analytic synthesis of 14 eligible studies demonstrated that exercise elicited a significant improvement of cognitive function in ID patients (Hedges' g = 0.85, p < 0.001), with the greatest effect observed for cognitive speed (Hedges' g = 0.93, p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses indicated that interventions lasting ≥12 weeks (Hedges' g = 0.92, p < 0.001), performed <3 times per week (Hedges' g = 1.22, p < 0.01), with sessions ≥60 min (Hedges' g = 1.91, p < 0.01), and >180 min per week in total (Hedges' g = 3.10, p < 0.01) yielded the most pronounced benefits. Adolescents with ID exhibited greater cognitive gains (Hedges' g = 1.01, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Exercise significantly improved cognitive function in ID patients. Our findings suggested that ID patients may benefit from exercise sessions lasting at least 60 min, performed fewer than three times per week, and sustained for at least 12 weeks. Achieving an exercise target of more than 180 min per week may further enhance cognitive function. Moreover, younger ID patients may experience greater improvements in cognitive function. Future studies should focus on standardizing exercise protocols and cognitive assessment tools to ensure consistency and comparability of findings in this population.