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The effect of resistance training on cognitive function in the older adults: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials

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Abstract

Background

Aging is often accompanied by decline in aspects of cognitive function. Cognitive decline has harmful effects on living independence and general health. Resistance training is seen as a promising intervention to prevent or delay cognitive deterioration, yet the evidence from reviews is less consistent.

Aim

To assess the effect of resistance training on cognition in the elderly with and without mild cognitive impairment and to provide an up-to-date overview.

Methods

A search was conducted using PUBMED, Web of science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Wan Fang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The searches were limited to articles published in English or Chinese from January 2010 to September 2017.

Results

The search returned 2634 records, of which 12 articles were included in the systematic review. Main results showed that resistance training had positive effects on the executive function and global cognitive function of the elderly, and short-term interventions had little positive effect on memory and attention. Secondary results demonstrated that there was a significant benefit of triweekly resistance training in global cognitive function and biweekly in executive function of the elderly.

Conclusions

Resistance training had positive effects on the executive cognitive ability and global cognitive function among the elderly; however, it had a weak-positive impact on memory. No significant improvement was found in attention. Triweekly resistance training has a better effect on general cognitive ability than biweekly. Further studies are needed focusing on the development and application of resistance training among the elderly.

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Funding

This research is funded by Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province (20160101215JC).

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Author notes

  1. Zhihui Li and Xin Peng are equal contributors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Jilin University, 965 Xinjiang Street, Changchun, 130021, China

    Zhihui Li, Xin Peng, Wei Xiang, Jiaqi Han & Kun Li

Authors
  1. Zhihui Li
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  2. Xin Peng
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  3. Wei Xiang
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  4. Jiaqi Han
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  5. Kun Li
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Correspondence to Kun Li.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Li, Z., Peng, X., Xiang, W. et al. The effect of resistance training on cognitive function in the older adults: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Aging Clin Exp Res 30, 1259–1273 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0998-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0998-6

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