Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42168724›Full record

ArticleGeroScience2026

Impact of an online-guided physical activity intervention on cognition, resting-state brain connectivity, and the gut microbiome in healthy older adults-a randomized controlled trial.

Simon J Schrenk, Corinna Bang, Lena Best, Thomas Dost, Stefano Flor, Christiane Frahm, Christian Gaser, Rami Abou Hamdan, Marco Herbsleb, Christoph Kaleta and 10 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in GeroScience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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

20 authors.

Simon J SchrenkDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany. simon.schrenk@med.uni-jena.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3638-1004
Corinna BangInstitute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Straße 12, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Lena BestInstitute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Michaelisstraße 5, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Thomas DostInstitute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Michaelisstraße 5, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Stefano FlorInstitute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Michaelisstraße 5, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Christiane FrahmDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.
Christian GaserDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.
Rami Abou HamdanDepartment of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Wöllnitzer Straße 42, Jena, 07749, Germany.
Marco HerbslebDepartment of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Wöllnitzer Straße 42, Jena, 07749, Germany.
Christoph KaletaInstitute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Michaelisstraße 5, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
Fabian KattlunDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.
Hans-Josef MüllerDepartment of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Wöllnitzer Straße 42, Jena, 07749, Germany.
Christian PutaDepartment of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Wöllnitzer Straße 42, Jena, 07749, Germany.
Monique RadscheidtDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.
Adriana L Ruiz-RizzoDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.
André ScheragCenter for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.
Thomas SteidtenDepartment of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Wöllnitzer Straße 42, Jena, 07749, Germany.
Otto W WitteDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.
Stefan BrodoehlDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.
Kathrin FinkeDepartment of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Am Klinikum 1, Jena, 07747, Germany.

Funding

Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung P2019-01-006Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft FI 1424/2-2Horizon 2020 Framework Programme 859890
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPhysical activity may enhance cognition in older adults, yet evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on mechanistic pathways remains inconclusive.

methodsThis single-blinded RCT examined the effects of an 8-week, online-guided, multicomponent physical activity intervention on cognitive function, resting-state functional brain connectivity (rsFC), and the gut microbiome in 92 healthy older adults (M age = 66.35). Participants were randomized to a physical activity group performing moderate-to-vigorous-intensity aerobic, coordination, and balance exercises, or to an active control group engaging in progressive muscle relaxation and listening to aging-related podcasts. The primary outcome was change in visual processing speed (items/s) from pre- to post-assessment. Secondary outcomes included changes in additional cognitive measures, rsFC, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and the gut microbiome.

resultsThe primary outcome showed no significant between-group differences. However, exploratory analyses revealed potential improvements in inhibition (η2 = 0.061; p = 0.025) and visual memory (η2 = 0.047; p = 0.040) in the physical activity group. This group also showed a potential increase in rsFC between visual and dorsal attention networks (η2 = 0.101; p = 0.009). Visual memory gains correlated with improvements in rsFC (p = 0.013). No between-group differences were observed in CRF or gut microbiome composition. DISCUSSION: While the primary outcome (visual processing speed) and predefined mechanistic pathways (e.g., gut microbiome composition) remained unaffected, this may partly reflect the sample's high baseline fitness, which likely limited observable improvements. Exploratory findings suggest potential cognitive and associated rsFC benefits in memory and attention-related networks. The online format enabled a structured, scalable intervention while minimizing potential confounding from social interaction.

trial registrationhttps://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00028022 (date of registration: 14.02.2022).

Indexed as

AgingCognitionGut microbiomeLifestyle interventionMRIResting-state

Identifiers

PMID42168724

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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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.