Aerobic Exercise: 14 of 16 Trials Report Gains in Thinking
Graded Moderate — a systematic search found 16 randomized trials, but results were only counted, not pooled into numbers, and most trials lasted six months or less.
- Design
- Systematic review
- Participants
- 16
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- —
In 14 of 16 trials, older adults scored better on thinking tests after aerobic exercise than comparison groups did.
Fourteen out of 16 trials pointed the same way. Older adults who did aerobic exercise scored better on thinking tests afterwards than comparison groups. Most participants had mild cognitive impairment, meaning early problems with memory or thinking. The authors describe this kind of mental frailty in later life as a condition that may be reversible.
The researchers searched for trials in which chance decided who exercised. Programs ranged from plain aerobic training to Tai Chi, the Chinese Baduanjin routine or kayak paddling, and to exercise done while solving a mental task. All plain aerobic trials and both dual-task trials found improvements. Only the one trial where people exercised first and practised thinking skills separately later found no clear benefit for thinking.
The review cannot say how big the benefit is. It simply counted whether each trial found an improvement. Most trials followed people for six months or less, so any effect on dementia risk is unknown. None of the trials measured physical frailty with validated tests.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.