SynthesisBMC geriatrics2023
Review articles (Meta-Analyses) effects of walking on cognitive function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC geriatrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Exercise modalities in mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of comparative effectiveness.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function in patients with cognitive dysfunction: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2025Pooled it
- The effects of Nordic walking on cognitive function in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2025Pooled it
- Trial
- Optimizing exercise for brain health: cortical activation and connectivity across different exercise modalities.Brain structure & function · 2026Article
- Is the 10-Year Trajectory of Physical Activity Associated With the Incidence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults?Psychogeriatrics : the official journal of the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society · 2026Article
- Repeated measures of physical activity before dementia diagnosis in community-dwelling older adults: a longitudinal study.The lancet. Healthy longevity · 2026Article
- Effects of aerobic exercise and computer-based cognitive training on cognition, functional independence, quality of life, and salivary cortisol levels in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized trial.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2026Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia. Previous studies have shown that regular exercise can improve cognition and physical performance in older adults. Walking is a low-technology and low-cost exercise that has been proven to improve cognition and mobility in healthy elderly individuals. However, no systematic review or meta-analysis has explored whether walking can improve cognitive function in older adults with MCI. This study aimed to explore the effects of walking interventions on cognitive functions in individuals with MCI.
methodsIn accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Web of Science, Airiti Library, and the National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in Taiwan were searched from inception to July 2023. Independent reviewers selected randomized clinical trials (RCT) that compared the effects of walking with no intervention or other exercises in individuals with MCI. The primary outcomes were cognitive functions, and the secondary outcome was walking endurance. Three reviewers independently conducted data extraction. The risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool.
resultsFourteen RCTs were included in this review. The quality of evidence in these studies was rated as good to excellent. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the individuals with MCI had no significant improvement in cognitive function but had significant improvement in the 6-min walk test (Mean Difference=23.70, p=0.008) after walking interventions compared to no intervention or other exercises.
conclusionWalking intervention has no significant improvement on cognitive functions in older adults with MCI. However, walking induces beneficial effects on aerobic capacity.
trial registrationThis systematic review has the registration number CRD42021283753 on PROSPERO.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.