Table 1.
Randomized controlled trials examining the effect of aerobic exercise on neurocognitive function
| Author / Year | Sample | Intervention | Instruments | Methodological Characteristics |
Exercise Intervention |
Hedge’s G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakken, 2001 (103) |
15, older adults, ages 72 to 91 |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 30min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Imaging (Verbal Fluency), Visual Discrimination, Raven’s Progressive Matrices, Short-Term Retention, Addition, Perception Of Ambiguous Stimuli |
Attrition: 0% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 30min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = .169 |
| Blumenthal, 1989 (72)& Madden, 1989(71) |
101, sedentary, ages 60 to 83 |
Duration: 16 wks¥ Frequency: 40min, 3/wk Intensity: 70% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Finger Tapping, Benton Revised Visual Retention Test, Digits Forward, Digits Backward, Selective Reminding Test, Randt Memory Test – Short Story, TMT-B, Digit Symbol, Ruff 2 & 7 Test, Stroop Color, Stroop Color-Word Interference, Nonverbal Fluency Test, Verbal Fluency Test |
Attrition: 8% ITT:Y Blinding: Y |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 40min, 3/wk Intensity: 70% HRR |
AT = .218 EX = −.025 WM = .114 ME = −.066 |
| Emery, 1990(110) |
48, “inner-city cohort”, ages 61 to 86 |
Duration: 12 wks Frequency: 60min, 3/wk Intensity: 70% HRR Combined Strength Training: Y MCI: N |
Digit Symbol, Digit Span, Word Copy, Number Copy |
Attrition:10% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 12 wks Frequency: 60min, 3/wk Intensity: 70% HRR |
AT = .028 EX = −.043 WM = .023 |
| Emery, 1998(111) |
79, with stable COPD, age range not reported M = 67 |
Duration: 10 wks¥ Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Verbal Fluency, Digit Vigilance, Finger Tapping, TMT-A, TMT -B, Digit Symbol |
Attrition: 5% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 10 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = .075 EX = .325 |
| Fabre, 2002(112) |
32, healthy elderly adults, ages 60 to 76 |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 45min, 2/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Weschler Memory Scale |
Attrition: 0% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 45min, 2/wk Intensity: - - - |
EX = −.188 WM = .878‡ME = −.339 |
| Hassmen, 1992(39) |
32, all women, ages 55 to 75 |
Duration: 12 wks Frequency: 20min, 3/wk Intensity: 9-13 RPE Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Digit Span, Face Recognition, Simple Reaction Time, Choice Reaction Time |
Attrition: 7% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 12 wks Frequency: 20min, 3/wk Intensity: 9-13 RPE |
AT = .179 EX = .167 WM = .204 ME = −.145 |
| Hawkins, 1992(66) |
40, sedentary, ages 63 to 82 |
Duration: 10 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Single-Task Reaction Time, Dual Task Reaction Time, Difference Between Single- Task And Dual-Task Reaction Time |
Attrition: 10% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 10 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = −.243 EX = .047 |
| Hoffman, 2008(31) |
153, sedentary and depressed, ages 41 to 87 |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: 70-85% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Logical Memory, Verbal Paired Associates, Digit Span, Animal Naming, COWAT, Stroop Color Word, Ruff 2 & 7 Test, Digit Symbol, TMT B-A |
Attrition: 28% ITT: Y Blinding: Y |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: 70-85% HRR |
AT = .277 EX = .172 WM = −.031 ME = .072 |
| Khatri, 2001(113) |
84, sedentary and depressed, ages 50 to 72 |
Duration: 17 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: 70-85% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Visual Reproduction, Stroop Color-Work Interference, Digit Span, Tmt-A, Digit Symbol, Stroop Color, Stroop Word, TMT-B, Logical Memory |
Attrition: 25% ITT: Y Blinding: Y |
Duration: 17 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: 70-85% HRR |
AT = .121 EX = .291 WM = −.047 ME = .186 |
| Kramer, 1999 & 2002(74, 75) |
124, sedentary, ages 60 to 75 |
Duration: 26 wks Frequency: 40 min, 3/wk Intensity: 50-70% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Reaction Time Tests: Switching Trials, Non- Switching Trials, Incompatible Trials, Compatible Trials, Interference effect (difference Between Compatible And Incompatible Trials), Stop Signal Trials, |
Attrition: 29% ITT:N Blinding: N |
Duration: 26 wks Frequency: 40 min, 3/wk Intensity: 50-70% HRR |
AT = .091 EX = .196 WM = −.101 ME = .156 |
| Lautenschlager, 2008(30) |
170, elderly adults with MCI, age M = 69 |
Duration: 72 wks¥ Frequency: 50 min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: Y |
Simple Reaction-Time Trials Word list recall (immediate and delayed), Digit Symbol, COWAT |
Attrition: 19% ITT: Y Blinding: Y |
Duration: 72 wks Frequency: 50 min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = .083 EX = −.071 ME = .322** |
| Masley, 2008(114) |
56, adults, age M = 45 |
Duration: 10 wks Frequency: 5/wk Intensity: 70-85% MHR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
CNS Vital Signs (verbal memory, symbol digit coding, the Stroop test, shifting attention, continuous performance) |
Attrition: 16% ITT: N Blinding: N (computerized) |
Duration: 10 wks Frequency: 5/wk Intensity: 70-85% MHR |
AT = −.158 EX = .487‡ |
| Moul, 1995(115) |
30, sedentary, ages 65 to 72 |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 35 min, 5/wk Intensity: 60-65% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Ross Information Processing Assessment Subtests: Organization, Auditory Processing, Immediate Memory, Recent Memory, Temporal Orientation, Problem Solving/ Abstract Reasoning |
Attrition: 0% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 35 min, 5/wk Intensity: 60-65% HRR |
EX = .780‡ ME = .351 |
| Munguia- Izquierdo, 2008(116) |
60, middle-aged women with fibromyalgia, ages 18 to 60 |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 50 min, 3/wk Intensity: 50-80% MHR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) |
Attrition: 12% ITT: Y Blinding: Y |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 50 min, 3/wk Intensity: 50-80% MHR |
AT = .922*** |
| Oken, 2004(117) |
69, multiple sclerosis, M = 49 |
Duration: 26 wks Frequency: 90 min, 1/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Stroop Color-Word test, Simple Reaction Time, Complex Reaction Time, Attentional Shift Task, PASAT, WMS Logical Memory, WAIS Similarities |
Attrition = 12% ITT: N Blinding: Y |
Duration: 26 wks Frequency: 90 min, 1/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = .074 EX = .133 WM = −.354 ME = .000 |
| Oken, 2006(118) |
135, healthy adults, ages 65 to 85 |
Duration: 26 wks Frequency: 60 min, 1/wk Intensity: 70% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Stroop Interference, Word List Recall, Letter- Number Sequencing, Covert Orienting, Divided Attention, Set Shifting, Simple Reaction time, Complex Reaction time |
Attrition: 13% ITT: N Blinding: Y |
Duration: 26 wks Frequency: 60 min, 1/wk Intensity: 70% HRR |
AT = −.132 EX = −.034 WM = −.029 ME = −.055 |
| Okumiya, 1996(29) |
42, healthy older adults, ages 75 to 87 |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 30min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: Y MCI: N |
MMSE, Hasegawa Dementia Scale, Visuospatial Cognitive Performance Test |
Attrition: 0% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 24 wks Frequency: 60 min, 2/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = .938** |
| Panton, 1990(119) |
39, healthy untrained older adults, ages 70 to 79 |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 40min, 3/wk Intensity: 70% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Reaction time, Speed of Movement Time |
Attrition: 14% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 26 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: 75% HRR |
AT = .111 |
| Perri, 1984(121) | 42, healthy older adults, ages 60 to 79 |
Duration: 10 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task |
Attrition: 41% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 15 wks Frequency: 30 min, 3/wk Intensity: 40-50% HRR |
ME = .261 |
| Pierce, 1993(120) |
90, middle-aged adults with hypertension, ages 29-59 |
Duration: 12 wks Frequency: 60min, 3/wk Intensity: 70% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Digit Symbol, Stroop Color Word test, Digit Span, TMT-B, Sternberg Memory Search Task (Slope and Y- intercept), Verbal Paired Associates, Logical Memory (immediate and delayed), Figural Memory (immediate and delayed) |
Attrition: 7% ITT: Y Blinding: Y |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 50 min, 3/wk Intensity: 70% HRR |
AT = .249 EX = .126 WM = −.283 ME = .233 |
| Russell, 1982(122) |
45, sedentary older adults, ages 55 to 70 |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 45min, 2/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Simple Reaction Time, Complex Reaction Time |
Attrition: 4% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = .214 EX = .081 |
| Scherder, 2005(79) |
43, elderly adults with MCI, ages 76 to 94 |
Duration: 12 wks Frequency: 20min, 3/wk Intensity: 9-13 RPE Combined Strength Training: N MCI: Y |
Category Naming, TMT-A, TMT-B, Digit Span, Visual Memory Span, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (Faces and Pictures), Verbal Learning and Memory Test: Direct Recall, Delayed Recall, and Recognition |
Attrition: 7% ITT: N Blinding: Y |
Duration: 6 wks Frequency: 30 min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - |
EX = .441 WM = .037 ME = .413 |
| Smiley-Oyen, 2008(123) |
57, older adults, ages 65-79 |
Duration: 10 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Stroop Test, Go-No-Go Test, Simple Reaction Time, Choice Reaction Time, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test |
Attrition: 7% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 40 wks Frequency: 25- 30min, 3/wk Intensity: 65-80% HRR |
AT = .234 EX = −.092 |
| Stroth, 2009(124) |
28, young adults, age M = 20 |
Duration: 16 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: 70-85% HRR Combined Strength Training: Y MCI: N |
Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Stroop Test |
Attrition: 22% ITT: N Blinding: Y |
Duration: 6 wks Frequency: 30min, 3/wk Intensity: 70-100% aerobic threshold |
AT = −.123 ME = .650‡ |
| Wallman, 2004(125) |
61, adults with cystic fibrosis, ages 16 to 74 |
Duration: 17 wks Frequency: 45min, 3/wk Intensity: 70-85% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Stroop Test (82 questions) Stroop Test (95 questions) |
Attrition: 10% ITT: N Blinding: Y |
Duration: 12 wks Frequency: Increased progressively from 5- 15 mins, 3-4/wk Intensity: based on target HR from treadmill testing |
EX = .479* |
| Whitehurst, 1991(126) |
14, sedentary older women, ages 61 to 73 |
Duration: 26 wks Frequency: 40 min, 3/wk Intensity: 50-70% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: N |
Simple Reaction Time, Choice Reaction Time |
Attrition: 0% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 35min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = −.551 EX = −.609 |
| Williams, 1997(104) |
187, all women, age M = 72 |
Duration: 72 wks Frequency: 50 min, 3/wk Intensity: - - - Combined Strength Training: Y MCI: N |
Digit Span, Picture Arrangement, Cattell’s Matrices |
Attrition: 20% ITT: N Blinding: N |
Duration: 42 wks Frequency: 35min, 2/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = .501** EX = .189 WM = .348* |
| Williamson, 2009(34) |
102, elderly adults, ages 70-89 years |
Duration: 10 wks Frequency: 5/wk Intensity: 70-85% MHR Combined Strength Training: Y MCI: N |
Digit Symbol, Modified Stroop Test, 3MSE, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test |
Attrition: 10% ITT: N Blinding: Y |
Duration: 52 wks Frequency: 45min, 1-2/wk Intensity: - - - |
AT = .206 EX = .026 ME = .011 |
| van Uffelen, 2008(33) |
152, elderly adults with MCI, age M = 75 |
Duration: 8 wks Frequency: 35 min, 5/wk Intensity: 60-65% HRR Combined Strength Training: N MCI: Y |
Digit Symbol, Stroop Color Word Test, Verbal Fluency, Auditory Verbal Learning Test |
Attrition: 9% ITT: Y Blinding: Y |
Duration: 52 wks Frequency: 60min, 2/wk Intensity: > 3 METs |
AT = −.10 EX = −.04 ME = −.03 |
***
p < .001
**
p < .01
*
p < .05
‡
p < .10
AT = attention and processing speed; EX = executive function; MET = metabolic equivalent, WM = working memory; MCI = Mild Cognitive Impairment, ME = memory; HRR = Heart Rate Reserve; MHR = maximum heart rate; RPE = Ratings of Perceived Exertion
¥
indicates multiple time points of data.