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The effect of combined cognitive intervention and physical exercise on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

Background

The state of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) provides an optimal window for preventing progression to dementia. Combined cognitive intervention and physical exercise may yield additive and synergistic effects on cognition in older adults with MCI.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a combined intervention to improve cognition in older adults with MCI by comparing a control group that underwent only cognitive intervention, a control group that underwent only physical exercise, and a control group that did not undergo cognitive intervention or physical exercise.

Design

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Data sources

The online databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were systematically searched.

Review methods

The outcomes were global cognition, memory, and executive function/attention. A sensitivity analysis was conducted when the I2 statistic was > 50%.

Results

A total of 16 studies were included. The results showed that the combined intervention had positive effects on global cognition compared to the effects of the other control group [SMD = 0.27, 95% CI (0.09, 0.44), p = 0.003]. Regarding memory, the combined intervention had positive effects compared to the effects observed in the single physical exercise group [SMD = 0.25, 95% CI (0.07, 0.44), p = 0.006] and the other control group [SMD = 0.29, 95% CI (0.12, 0.47), p = 0.001]. For executive function/attention, the combined intervention had also positive effects compared to the effects of the single cognitive intervention group [SMD = 0.28, 95% CI (0.09, 0.47), p = 0.004], the single physical exercise group [SMD = 0.32, 95% CI (0.16, 0.49), p = 0.0002], and the other control group [SMD = 0.23, 95% CI (0.05, 0.41), p = 0.01].

Conclusions

The combined intervention resulted in cognitive benefits in older adults with MCI and exhibited limited superiority over the single cognitive intervention and the single physical exercise on cognitive subdomains.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Health and Family Planning Committee of Jilin Province, China [grant numbers 2020J036] and the Education Department of Jilin Province, China [grant numbers 2015J505]. I would like to thank the organizations for funding my research.

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Author notes

  1. Qiuyan Meng and Huiru Yin contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Jilin University, No. 965 Xinjiang Road, Changchun, 130021, China

    Qiuyan Meng, Huiru Yin, Shuo Wang, Xiangfei Meng, Mingli Yan, Guichen Li & Li Chen

  2. Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China

    Binghan Shang

  3. School of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, No. 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China

    Jianfeng Chu

  4. Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, No. 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130000, China

    Li Chen

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Meng, Q., Yin, H., Wang, S. et al. The effect of combined cognitive intervention and physical exercise on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Aging Clin Exp Res 34, 261–276 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-021-01877-0

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