Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41584749›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychiatry2025

Effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qian Zhao, Zhao Chen Hong, Tian Tian Wei, Yu Ting Jiang, Hui Zeng, Guiling Miao

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Qian ZhaoDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Zhao Chen HongXiangya School of Nursing of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Tian Tian WeiDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Yu Ting JiangDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Hui ZengXiangya School of Nursing of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Guiling MiaoDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Regular exercise may boost cognition in older adults with MCI, but the effectiveness of different aerobic exercise (AE) modalities is unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess AE's impact on cognition in this group. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of AE on cognitive function in older adults with MCI. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to July 2025 and referenced included articles. RCTs with aerobic exercise and outcomes for global cognition and specific cognitive domains in older MCI adults were included. Data was pooled using mean difference, standardized random-effect model, and 95% CI with RevMan V.5.4 and Stata 16.0. Results: A total of 33 studies with 1996 participants were included. The results revealed that AE exerted a significant positive effect on global cognition (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI (0.50, 1.12), Z = 5.07, p=0.00) and a moderate positive effect on memory (SMD = 0.34, 95% CI (0.06, 0.63); Z = 2.33, p = 0.02). Notably, no significant improvements were observed in executive function, attention, processing speed, language, or visuospatial abilities. Furthermore, meta-regression and subgroup analyses indicated statistically significant variations across different intervention combinations, suggesting heterogeneity in treatment effects. Conclusion: AE significantly improved global cognition and memory in elderly individuals with MCI. Furthermore, the frequency (3-5 sessions per week), timing, intensity, and total duration of the interventions should be tailored to individual needs and gradually refined for personalized optimization. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021238308.

Indexed as

aerobic exercisecognitive functionmeta-analysismild cognitive impairmentold adults

Identifiers

PMID41584749
PMCPMC12827630

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.