SynthesisFrontiers in psychiatry2025
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of resistance exercise on cognitive function in older adults.
Synthesis in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Comparative effects of different exercise modalities on cognitive domains in older adults: a Bayesian network meta-analysis and meta-regression.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Examining the Impact of Perceived and Objective Cognitive Function on Social Participation in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Epigenetic and Neurogenomic Mechanisms Linking Physical Activity to Brain Plasticity and Cognitive Function.Genes · 2026Review
- The impact of resistance training on the cognitive health of older adults: a narrative review.Frontiers in aging · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objective: Cognitive decline has become a major concern with global population ageing, profoundly affecting quality of life and social participation in older adults. Resistance exercise has recently gained attention as a promising strategy to promote neuroplasticity and mitigate cognitive deterioration; however, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of resistance exercise on cognitive function in older adults and to examine whether improvements vary by age and whether exercise parameters-such as type, duration, session length, and weekly frequency-show dose-response relationships. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Science Direct were systematically searched from database inception to September 2024 for RCTs investigating the effects of resistance training on cognitive function in older adults (≥60 years). Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (ROB2) tool, and meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17. Results: 17 RCTs (n =739) met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analyses showed that resistance training significantly improved overall cognitive function (SMD = 0.40, P < 0.05), working memory (SMD = 0.44, P < 0.001), verbal learning and memory (MD = 3.01, P < 0.001), and spatial memory span (SMD = 0.63, P < 0.001), whereas effects on processing speed, executive function, and attention were not significant (P > 0.05). Heterogeneity and publication bias analyses indicated stable and unbiased results. Conclusion: Resistance exercise exerts selective benefits on cognitive domains in older adults, particularly enhancing overall cognition, working memory, verbal learning, and spatial memory. The magnitude of improvement appears to depend on age and exercise parameters, suggesting a potential dose-response relationship. These findings provide evidence-based guidance for resistance training into cognitive health promotion and rehabilitation programs for ageing populations. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023407397.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.