Impact of exercise training on physical and cognitive function among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

5 Repeated evidence

How much this weighs: several studies in people, combined — the strongest kind of evidence there is.

Type of study: meta-analysis or systematic review
Studied in: people
Participants: 48
Published: 2020 in Neurobiology of aging
Cited: 203 times by other research
Who paid: Not declared. PubMed carries no conflict-of-interest statement for most articles; that is not the same as independent.
Source: PubMed 31051329 · doi 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.03.007

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

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.