Evidence map›Paper›PMID 20223924›Full record

SynthesisPsychosomatic medicine2010

Aerobic exercise and neurocognitive performance: a meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials.

Patrick J Smith, James A Blumenthal, Benson M Hoffman, Harris Cooper, Timothy A Strauman, Kathleen Welsh-Bohmer, Jeffrey N Browndyke, Andrew Sherwood

7 registry-linked trialsAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Psychosomatic medicine, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 7 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 710 papers, 24 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
710citing papers in PubMed, 24 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT02780739 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2014, after this paper: background citation

An Integrative System for Enhancing Fluid Intelligence (Gf) Through Human Cognitive Activity, Fitness, High-definition Transcranial Direct-current Brain Stimulation (HD-tDCS), and Nutritional Intervention

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignRan2014 to 2014Enrolled521ConditionsCognitive Ability, GeneralArmsCognitive Training - 48 sessions, Fitness, Active Control, active tDCS, sham tDCS
NCT03591809 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2018, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of Combined Exercise Training on Cognitive Functions in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

TypeinterventionalSponsorGazi UniversityRan2018 to 2019Enrolled17ConditionsMultiple SclerosisArmscombined exercise training
NCT04185298 naterminatednot on this mapstarted 2019, after this paper: background citation

Mobile Technology-Based Simultaneous Aerobic Exercise and Memory Training Intervention for Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

TypeinterventionalSponsorJennifer BramenRan2019 to 2023Enrolled12ConditionsAmnestic Mild Cognitive ImpairmentArmsmSIM intervention plus activity monitoring, Activity monitoring
NCT05735405 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Priming Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Training of Patients With Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke

TypeinterventionalSponsorFondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ETSRan2022 to 2023Enrolled30ConditionsIschemic Stroke, Hemorrhagic StrokeArmsNeuropsychological evaluation, BDNF evaluation, Pedaling as a moderate intensity aerobic exercise, Cognitive Training, VO2 assessment
NCT05877196 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Precision Medicine in Alzheimer's Disease: A SMART Trial of Adaptive Exercises and Their Mechanisms of Action Using AT(N) Biomarkers to Optimize Aerobic-Fitness Responses (The FIT-AD SMART Trial)

TypeinterventionalSponsorArizona State UniversityRan2023 to 2028Enrolled216ConditionsMild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer Disease, Cognitive Impairment, Cognitive DeclineArmsModerate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT), Chair-based Stretch, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Combined Aerobic Resistance Exercise (CARE)
NCT06181500 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Home-Based Exercise in Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Pilot Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorMontreal Heart InstituteRan2023 to 2024Enrolled13ConditionsPrimary Progressive Aphasia, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Logopenic Progressive Aphasia, Semantic DementiaArmsHome-based multicomponent exercise intervention program
NCT07628686 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

EMBRACE - From Vulnerable to Empowered: Implementation and Evaluation of a Multicomponent Program to Tackling Age-related Decline

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity Fernando PessoaRan2026 to 2029Enrolled120ConditionsAge-Related Cognitive DeclineArmsEMBRACE Intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

710 citing papers in PubMed, 24 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  6. A meta-analysis of eHealth interventions to promote physical activity in young, middle-aged, and late middle-aged adults with obesity or overweight.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2025
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  20. The Benefits of Physical Activity for People with Obesity, Independent of Weight Loss: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
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650 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Patrick J SmithBox 3119, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Smith562@mc.duke.edu
James A Blumenthal
Benson M Hoffman
Harris Cooper
Timothy A Strauman
Kathleen Welsh-Bohmer
Jeffrey N Browndyke
Andrew Sherwood

Funding

Exercise, Depression, and Cardiac RiskR01HL080664 · NHLBI · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI BLUMENTHAL, JAMES A · 2006 to 2010
$3.7M
EXERCISE TRAINING AND DEPRESSION IN OLDER ADULTSR01MH049679 · NIMH · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI BLUMENTHAL, JAMES A. · 1994 to 2004
$2.7M
NCRR NIH HHS M01-RR-30NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL080664NIMH NIH HHS MH 49679NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH049679
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo assess the effects of aerobic exercise training on neurocognitive performance. Although the effects of exercise on neurocognition have been the subject of several previous reviews and meta-analyses, they have been hampered by methodological shortcomings and are now outdated as a result of the recent publication of several large-scale, randomized, controlled trials (RCTs).

methodsWe conducted a systematic literature review of RCTs examining the association between aerobic exercise training on neurocognitive performance between January 1966 and July 2009. Suitable studies were selected for inclusion according to the following criteria: randomized treatment allocation; mean age > or =18 years of age; duration of treatment >1 month; incorporated aerobic exercise components; supervised exercise training; the presence of a nonaerobic-exercise control group; and sufficient information to derive effect size data.

resultsTwenty-nine studies met inclusion criteria and were included in our analyses, representing data from 2049 participants and 234 effect sizes. Individuals randomly assigned to receive aerobic exercise training demonstrated modest improvements in attention and processing speed (g = 0.158; 95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.055-0.260; p = .003), executive function (g = 0.123; 95% CI, 0.021-0.225; p = .018), and memory (g = 0.128; 95% CI, 0.015-0.241; p = .026).

conclusionsAerobic exercise training is associated with modest improvements in attention and processing speed, executive function, and memory, although the effects of exercise on working memory are less consistent. Rigorous RCTs are needed with larger samples, appropriate controls, and longer follow-up periods.

Indexed as

AdultAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsAttentionCognitionCognition DisordersExecutive FunctionExerciseExercise TherapyHumansMemoryMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID20223924
PMCPMC2897704

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

and 1 more above

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.