ReviewIbrain2026
The impact of exercise on cognitive function and brain health across the lifespan: A systematic review.
Review in Ibrain, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
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
Exercise has profound positive effects on cognitive function and brain health throughout different life stages. This systematic review aims to evaluate the multifaceted impacts of exercise on cognitive function, neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter expression, cerebrovascular function, and age-related cognitive decline across the lifespan. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for studies examining exercise interventions and cognitive function. Eligibility criteria included studies involving human participants across all age groups and animal models focusing on molecular mechanisms. The review employed qualitative synthesis to examine exercise modalities and age-specific effects. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists. A total of 37 studies were included in the final synthesis (young adults: 2, middle-aged adults: 7, older adults/neurodegenerative diseases: 13, molecular mechanisms: 15). Regular physical activity, including aerobic, resistance, and combined training, significantly enhances cognitive abilities, promotes neuroplasticity, and mitigates age-related cognitive decline. Key molecular mechanisms include upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and modulation of dopaminergic and serotonergic systems. Exercise serves as a potent non-pharmacological intervention for maintaining cognitive vitality and mental health. Limitations include heterogeneity in exercise protocols and outcome measures across studies. Future research should focus on multi-omics approaches to further elucidate cell-type-specific effects.
Indexed as
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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.