Effects of aerobic, strength, and combined exercise on cognitive functions in older adults: a systematic review

Introduction: Aging is associated with a decline in cognitive functions, increasing the risk of neurocognitive impairment and limitation of activities of daily living and participation. Previous literature has pointed to physical exercise as an effective intervention; however, its characteristics still need to be specified. Objective: The aim was to synthesize the appropriate intensity, duration, frequency, and type of exercise for different types of cognitive variables. Method: A systematic review was carried out according to PRISMA, using three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Experimental longitudinal studies were included, whether randomised or not, which performed physical exercise and with a control group in people over 60 years of age. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: The results yielded 11 studies finding significant improvements in all of them after performing the intervention (7 of aerobic exercise, 3 of resistance exercise and 2 of combined exercise) finding improvements in attention, memory, processing speed, executive function, inhibition, concentration, perceptual reasoning, orientation, visuospatial perception, and visuomotor organisation. Conclusions: Physical exercise appears to be a beneficial intervention for cognition in older people, with aerobic exercise being the most studied, although further research is needed. The results could benefit decision-making in rehabilitation to work on cognition in cognitively healthy older people.