IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i17p6166-d403745.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of Combined Physical and Cognitive Interventions on Executive Functions in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Guo

    (College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
    Institute of Sports, Exercise and Brain, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China)

  • Ming Zang

    (College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China)

  • Sebastian Klich

    (Department of Paralympic Sport, University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, 51-617 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Adam Kawczyński

    (Department of Paralympic Sport, University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, 51-617 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Małgorzata Smoter

    (Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Center ‘Promyk Słońca’, 50-088 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Biye Wang

    (College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
    Institute of Sports, Exercise and Brain, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China)

Abstract

Background: Both physical exercise and cognitive training can effectively improve executive functions in older adults. However, whether physical activity combined with cognitive training is more effective than a single intervention remains controversial. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of combined physical and cognitive interventions on executive functions in older adults aged 65–80 years old. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of combined physical and cognitive interventions on executive functions in older adults were searched using the Web of Science, Elsevier Science, PubMed, EBSCO, Springer-Link, and NATURE databases. Data extraction and quality evaluation were done by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis, V3. Results: A total of 21 studies were included. The results showed that the combined physical and cognitive interventions produced significantly larger gains in executive functions, compared to the control group (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.14, 0.39], p < 0.01). Furthermore, the effects of the combined physical and cognitive interventions were moderated by the study quality, intervention length, and intervention frequency. No significant differences were found between the combined interventions and the physical intervention alone (SMD = 0.13, 95% CI [−0.07, 0.33], p > 0.05) or the cognitive intervention alone (SMD = 0.13, 95% CI [−0.05, 0.30], p > 0.05). Conclusions: The combined physical and cognitive interventions effectively delayed the decrease of executive functions in older adults and this effect was influenced by the length and frequency of the intervention as well as the research quality. However, the effect of the combined physical and cognitive interventions was not significantly better than that of each intervention alone.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Guo & Ming Zang & Sebastian Klich & Adam Kawczyński & Małgorzata Smoter & Biye Wang, 2020. "Effect of Combined Physical and Cognitive Interventions on Executive Functions in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-19, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:17:p:6166-:d:403745
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6166/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6166/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Puntarik Keawtep & Wanachaporn Wichayanrat & Sirinun Boripuntakul & Siriporn C. Chattipakorn & Somporn Sungkarat, 2022. "Cognitive Benefits of Physical Exercise, Physical–Cognitive Training, and Technology-Based Intervention in Obese Individuals with and without Postmenopausal Condition: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Falonn Contreras-Osorio & Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo & Enrique Cerda-Vega & Rodrigo Campos-Jara & Cristian Martínez-Salazar & Rodrigo Araneda & Daniela Ebner-Karestinos & Cristián Arellano-Roco & Christ, 2022. "Effects of Sport-Based Exercise Interventions on Executive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Isabel Gómez-Soria & Juan Nicolás Cuenca-Zaldívar & Beatriz Rodriguez-Roca & Ana Belén Subirón-Valera & Carlos Salavera & Yolanda Marcén-Román & Elena Andrade-Gómez & Estela Calatayud, 2023. "Cognitive Effects of a Cognitive Stimulation Programme on Trained Domains in Older Adults with Subjective Memory Complaints: Randomised Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-19, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:17:p:6166-:d:403745. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.