SynthesisAlzheimer's research & therapy2022
The effects of exercise programs on cognition, activities of daily living, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in community-dwelling people with dementia-a systematic review.
Synthesis in Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 34 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic review of actigraphy measures associated with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.Chronobiology international · 2025Pooled it
- The use and effect of virtual reality as a non-pharmacological intervention for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Age and ageing · 2025Pooled it
- Topical Cellular/Tissue and Molecular Aspects Regarding Nonpharmacological Interventions in Alzheimer's Disease-A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Pooled it
- Trial
- Physical exercise for prevention of dementia study: a 48-month randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in aging · 2026Trial
- Maintaining independence at home after a fall: a process evaluation of the MAINTAIN multicomponent intervention for people living with dementia.Age and ageing · 2025Trial
- Promoting Activity, Independence, and Stability in Early Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (PrAISED): randomised controlled trial.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2023Trial
- Physical activity, falls, and dementia risk in adults aged ≥ 60: evidence from three cohorts.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2026Article
- Neuropsychology and Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.Neurologic clinics · 2024Review
- Physical Activity and Cognitive Functioning.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Review
- Physical exercise frequency and cognition: a multicenter cross-sectional cohort study.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2024Article
- Effects of a Senior Musical Program on the Physical Function and Cognitive Abilities of Older Women in the Community.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Effects of Virtual Reality Physical and Cognitive Training Intervention On Cognitive Abilities of Elders with Mild Cognitive Impairment.Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports · 2023Article
- Persisting neuropsychiatric symptoms, Alzheimer's disease, and cerebrospinal fluid cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.Alzheimer's research & therapy · 2022Article
- Non-pharmacological interventions for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis protocol.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe prevalence of dementia is expected to increase dramatically. Due to a lack of pharmacological treatment options for people with dementia, non-pharmacological treatments such as exercise programs have been recommended to improve cognition, activities of daily living, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, inconsistent results have been reported across different trials, mainly because of the high heterogeneity of exercise modalities. Thus, this systematic review aims to answer the questions whether exercise programs improve cognition, activities of daily living as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms in community-dwelling people with dementia.
methodsEight databases were searched for articles published between 2016 and 2021 (ALOIS, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science). Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of any type of physical activity on cognition, activities of daily living, or neuropsychiatric symptoms in community-dwelling people with a formal diagnosis of dementia were included in this systematic review. Two authors independently assessed eligibility and quality of the studies. The methodology was in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines.
resultsEight publications covering seven trials were included in this review with the majority investigating either a combination of strength and aerobic exercise or aerobic exercise alone. This review revealed that there is no clear evidence for the beneficial effects of exercise on cognition. None of the included trials found an impact on activities of daily living. Although different randomized controlled trials reported inconsistent results, one trial indicated that especially aerobic exercise may improve neuropsychiatric symptoms.
conclusionOur systematic review did not confirm the impact of exercise on cognition and activities of daily living in community-dwelling people with dementia. The results suggested that aerobic exercise might be effective to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms. Well-designed trials including only community-dwelling people with a formal diagnosis of dementia, large samples, long-term follow-ups, and detailed description of adherence to the intervention are needed to improve the scientific evidence on the best type of exercise modality.
trial registrationPROSPERO, CRD42021246598 .
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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.