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Cited by 775Physical Activity and HealthDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchCognitive Functions and Memory

Resistance Training and Executive Functions: A 12-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

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Liu-Ambrose, Teresa·2010·Archives of Internal Medicine
DOI 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.494PMC PMC3448565
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cognitive decline among seniors is a pressing health care issue. Specific exercise training may combat cognitive decline. We compared the effect of once-weekly and twice-weekly resistance training with that of twice-weekly balance and tone exercise training on the performance of executive cognitive functions in senior women. METHODS: In this single-blinded randomized trial, 155 community-dwelling women aged 65 to 75 years living in Vancouver were randomly allocated to once-weekly (n = 54) or twice-weekly (n = 52) resistance training or twice-weekly balance and tone training (control group) (n = 49). The primary outcome measure was performance on the Stroop test, an executive cognitive test of selective attention and conflict resolution. Secondary outcomes of executive cognitive functions included set shifting as measured by the Trail Making Tests (parts A and B) and working memory as assessed by verbal digit span forward and backward tests. Gait speed, muscular function, and whole-brain volume were also secondary outcome measures. RESULTS: Both resistance training groups significantly improved their performance on the Stroop test compared with those in the balance and tone group (P < or = .03). Task performance improved by 12.6% and 10.9% in the once-weekly and twice-weekly resistance training groups, respectively; it deteriorated by 0.5% in the balance and tone group. Enhanced selective attention and conflict resolution was significantly associated with increased gait speed. Both resistance training groups demonstrated reductions in whole-brain volume compared with the balance and tone group at the end of the study (P < or = .03). CONCLUSION: Twelve months of once-weekly or twice-weekly resistance training benefited the executive cognitive function of selective attention and conflict resolution among senior women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00426881.

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  • Exercise dosage parameters are often inconsistently reported or analyzed across studies, limiting the ability to recommend optimized protocols.

    “However, these parameters are often inconsistently reported or analyzed across studies, limiting the ability to recommend optimized protocols (Liu-Ambrose et al., 2010; Falck et al., 2019).”

    From Optimal exercise interventions for enhancing cognitive function in older adults: a network meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Liu-Ambrose et al., 2010

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says no prior study had examined the minimum resistance-training frequency needed for cognitive benefits and that evidence of a minimally effective dose would improve exercise-prescription options. This supports a gap in dose evidence, but not the claim that dosage parameters are often inconsistently reported or analyzed across studies. (LLM, conf=0.77)

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  • Intervention efficacy may be modulated by exercise dosage, including frequency, session duration, and total program length.

    “Second, intervention efficacy may be modulated by exercise dosage, including frequency, session duration, and total program length.”

    From Optimal exercise interventions for enhancing cognitive function in older adults: a network meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Liu-Ambrose et al., 2010

    The Results report cognitive benefits after 12 months but not six months and discuss training frequency as a possible reason for differences between studies. The Methods specify 60-minute sessions, but the paper does not test whether session duration modulates efficacy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Sorted by citations

Authors
Liu-Ambrose, T.
Affiliations
University of British Columbia (CA)
Corresponding author
Liu-Ambrose, Teresa
ORCID
Liu-Ambrose, Teresa
Venue
Archives of Internal Medicine
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2010-01-25
Volume
170
Issue
2
Pages
170
ISSN
0003-9926 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archinternmed.2009.494
PMC
PMC3448565
OpenAlex
W2135423331
Cited by
775
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 49 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 101 · 2019: 54 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 50 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 32
FWCI
26.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Archives of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Centre for Hip Health and Mobility
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (113561)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords
resistance training, executive function, cognitive decline, older women, selective attention, conflict resolution, set-shifting, working memory, walking speed, total brain volume, exercise frequency, Stroop task, Trail Making Test
MeSH terms
Aged, Cognition, Female, Gait, Humans, Memory, Trail Making Test, Exercise, Single-Blind Method, Muscle Strength, Resistance Training, Executive Function

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