In this randomized controlled trial in older adults, 5 years of moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise did not show a significant effect on global cognition or likelihood of mild cognitive impairment.

The effect of exercise was sex specific, in that moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise was significantly associated with better global cognition and lower odds of mild cognitive impairment in men, but not in women.

Increased peak oxygen uptake had beneficial and significant effects on cognition in both men and women.