Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31095081›Full record

ReviewMedicine and science in sports and exercise2019

Physical Activity, Cognition, and Brain Outcomes: A Review of the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines.

Kirk I Erickson, Charles Hillman, Chelsea M Stillman, Rachel M Ballard, Bonny Bloodgood, David E Conroy, Richard Macko, David X Marquez, Steven J Petruzzello, Kenneth E Powell and 1 more

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 605 papers, 27 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
605citing papers in PubMed, 27 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.

NCT06168526 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Acute Effects of Physical Activity on Cognition and Well-being in University Students: ActClass4Brain Project

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversitat Jaume IRan2024 to 2026Enrolled120ConditionsCognitive Change, Well-Being, PsychologicalArmsAcute physical activity
NCT06628999 nawithdrawnnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Perceptual-vision Training as a Strategy for Healthy Ageing in Adults With Intellectual Disability

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversità degli Studi dell'InsubriaRan2025 to 2025Enrolled0ConditionsIntellectual Disability, Intellectual Impairment, Activity, Motor, Sports Physical TherapyArmsVisual Training, Control Group, Visual Training-detraining
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

605 citing papers in PubMed, 27 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  12. Physical inactivity in chronic airways disease: an important candidate in the treatable traits paradigm.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026
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  19. Combined cardiorespiratory and resistance training for people with stroke.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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  20. Resistance training for people with stroke.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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545 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

11 authors.

Kirk I EricksonDepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Charles HillmanDepartment of Psychology and Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA.
Chelsea M StillmanDepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Rachel M BallardOffice of Disease Prevention, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
Bonny BloodgoodICF, Fairfax, VA.
David E ConroyDepartment of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
Richard MackoDepartment of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
David X MarquezDepartment of Kinesiology and Nutrition, Center for Research on Health and Aging, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Steven J PetruzzelloDepartment of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
Kenneth E PowellCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
FOR 2018 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE*

Funding

University of Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (UM-OAIC)P30AG028747 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · PI Stephen L. Seliger · 2006 to 2026
$28.9M
VARIABILITY, STABILITY & SMOOTHNESS OF WALKINGP30AG024827 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Caterina Rosano · 2004 to 2026
$28.6M
Intramural NIH HHS Z99 OD999999NIA NIH HHS P30 AG024827NIA NIH HHS P30 AG028747
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePhysical activity (PA) is known to improve cognitive and brain function, but debate continues regarding the consistency and magnitude of its effects, populations and cognitive domains most affected, and parameters necessary to achieve the greatest improvements (e.g., dose).

methodsIn this umbrella review conducted in part for the 2018 Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee, we examined whether PA interventions enhance cognitive and brain outcomes across the life span, as well as in populations experiencing cognitive dysfunction (e.g., schizophrenia). Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and pooled analyses were used. We further examined whether engaging in greater amounts of PA is associated with a reduced risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia in late adulthood.

resultsModerate evidence from randomized controlled trials indicates an association between moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA and improvements in cognition, including performance on academic achievement and neuropsychological tests, such as those measuring processing speed, memory, and executive function. Strong evidence demonstrates that acute bouts of moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA have transient benefits for cognition during the postrecovery period after exercise. Strong evidence demonstrates that greater amounts of PA are associated with a reduced risk of developing cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's disease. The strength of the findings varies across the life span and in individuals with medical conditions influencing cognition.

conclusionsThere is moderate-to-strong support that PA benefits cognitive functioning during early and late periods of the life span and in certain populations characterized by cognitive deficits.

Indexed as

Practice Guidelines as TopicAgingBrainCognitionCognition DisordersExerciseHumansPhysical FitnessRisk Reduction Behavior

Identifiers

PMID31095081
PMCPMC6527141

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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.