Impact of exercise training on physical and cognitive function among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
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.
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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 Falck et al., 2019
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 Falck et al., 2019
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- Authors
- Falck, R. S., Davis, J. C., Best, J. R., Crockett, R. A., & Liu-Ambrose, T.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Liu-Ambrose, Teresa
- Venue
- Neurobiology of Aging
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-07
- Volume
- 79
- Pages
- 119-130
- ISSN
- 0197-4580 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2923162815
- Cited by
- 437
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 40 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 66 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 75 · 2021: 64 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 7
- FWCI
- 5.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neurobiology of Aging (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Jack Brown and Family Alzheimer Research Foundation
- Canada Research Chair Program
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Keywords
- exercise training, older adults, physical function, cognitive function, healthy aging, successful aging
- MeSH terms
- Healthy Aging, Physical Functional Performance, Aged, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Exercise
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