Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41040812›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in aging neuroscience2025

The effects of Nordic walking on cognitive function in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Haobai Li, Ke Zhu, Jianyu Gan, Ziyi Wang, Zhikun Gao, Liangru Liu, Xiaojie Guo, Jianfeng Niu

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
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.

Haobai Li *Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Ke Zhu *Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Jianyu GanSports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Ziyi WangSports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Zhikun GaoSports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Liangru LiuSchool of Physical Education, Guangxi University, Guangxi, China.
Xiaojie GuoSports Department, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
Jianfeng NiuSports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Nordic walking (NW), as a specialized form of aerobic exercise, emerges as a promising strategy to improve the cognitive function in older population. However, the effectiveness of NW has yet to be definitively confirmed due to the variances in the study designs and observations. This systematic review and meta-analysis was thus conducted to examine the effect of NW interventions on cognitive function of older adults. Methods: The search was conducted in August 2025 on Web of Science, PubMed, SPORT-Discus, Medline, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases. Two reviewers independently reviewed the search results, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias and certainty of evidence. Meta-analyses and meta-regressions were performed to determine the overall effect size and the impact of potential moderators. Results: Initial screening identified 336 records, and after full-text assessment, eight studies (from 2014 to 2024) comprising 327 participants (71.19 ± 5.44 yrs) were included. The effect size of NW on executive function was significant [Hedges' Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that NW interventions could improve executive function in older adults, especially those with health conditions. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42025638467.

Indexed as

cognitive functionexercisemeta-analysisNordic walkingolder adults

Identifiers

PMID41040812
PMCPMC12484218

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.