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Evidence Summary
What is an Evidence Summary?
Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisIn people with mild cognitive impairment, exercise improves cognitive function
Song D, Yu DSF, Li PWC, et al. The effectiveness of physical exercise on cognitive and psychological outcomes in individuals with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2018;79:155-64.
Review question
In people with mild cognitive impairment, can exercise improve cognitive function (e.g., thinking, learning, and remembering)?
Background
Mild cognitive impairment includes problems with thinking, memory, language, and judgment that are noticeable but don’t much affect daily living. People with mild cognitive impairment are at risk for developing dementia, which is cognitive impairment that is serious enough to interfere with daily living.
How the review was done
The researchers did a systematic review of studies available up to October 2017. They found 11 randomized controlled trials that included 929 people.
The key features of the studies were
- people were at least 50 years of age and were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment;
- 6 studies evaluated aerobic exercise, 3 evaluated resistance training, and 2 evaluated 3 or 4 exercise types (including aerobic exercise, resistance training, stretching and balance, and Tai Chi);
- people exercised for 6 weeks to 1 year; and
- exercise was compared with stretching, health education, or social visits or activities.
What the researchers found
Exercise
- improved overall cognition; but
- did not improve memory or executive function (that is, mental skills needed for planning, problem solving, and focusing attention).
Conclusion
In people with mild cognitive impairment, exercise improved overall cognition but not memory or executive function.
Exercise for improving cognitive functioning in people with mild cognitive impairment
| Outcomes | Number of trials (and people) | Effect of exercise* |
| Overall cognition | 7 trials (635 people) | Small improvement |
| Overall memory | 8 trials (808 people) | No improvement |
| Executive function (mental skills needed for planning, problem solving, and focusing attention) | 8 trials (775 people) | No improvement |
Related Topics
Glossary
Mental processes, including thinking, learning and remembering.
Trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect everyday life.
Studies where people are assigned to one of the treatments purely by chance.
A comprehensive evaluation of the available research evidence on a particular topic.
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