Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34535084›Full record

ReviewEuropean review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity2021

Effects of physical exercise on working memory in older adults: a systematic and meta-analytic review.

Cai Zhidong, Xing Wang, Jilin Yin, Dehai Song, Zhitong Chen

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 52 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
52citing papers in PubMed, 11 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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

52 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  18. Social Working Memory: a Systematic Review.Neuropsychology review · 2026
    Review
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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

5 authors.

Cai ZhidongShanghai University of Sport, School of Physical Education and Training, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Xing WangShanghai University of Sport, School of Physical Education and Training, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Jilin YinPhysical Education Department, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, 535011, China.
Dehai SongInstitute of P. E Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224002, Jiangsu Province, China.
Zhitong ChenSchool of Physical Education and Health, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, 2800 Wenxiang Road, Shanghai, 201620, China. chenzhitong@lixin.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7605-5380

Funding

National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences 20BTY116Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality 11DZ2261100
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis systematic and meta-analytic review aimed to investigate the effects of physical exercise on the working memory of older adults, and to identify the moderators of these effects.

methodsWe searched six electronic databases for randomized controlled trials on the effects of physical exercise on working memory that were published before or on May 15, 2020. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Stata 14.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias testing.

resultsA total of 28 studies and 2156 participants were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was fair to excellent, and there was no publication bias. Overall, we found that physical exercise had a significant effect on working memory in older adults (standardized mean difference = 0.30, p < 0.0001). The effects of physical exercise on working memory were moderated by exercise frequency, intensity, type, duration, cognitive status, and control subgroup (active/passive), but not by intervention period or age of participant.

conclusionPhysical exercise can effectively improve the working memory of older adults. The recommended physical exercise is multi-component exercise or mind-body exercise of moderate intensity for 45-60 min 3 times a week, for more than 6 months.

Indexed as

meta-analysisOlder adultsPhysical exerciseRandomized controlled trialWorking memory

Identifiers

PMID34535084
PMCPMC8447686

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.