Effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function in sedentary adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 42221635 · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1794345
What was done
A systematic review and frequentist network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (searched through December 2025) evaluated the cognitive effects of exercise interventions (aerobic, resistance, multicomponent) versus sedentary controls in sedentary adults. Global cognition and executive function were analyzed via network meta-analysis and ranked using surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Memory function was evaluated via standard random-effects pairwise meta-analysis. Effect sizes were computed as standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
What was found
Seventeen RCTs comprising 2,187 sedentary adults were analyzed. For global cognitive function, multicomponent exercise ranked highest (SUCRA = 88.5%), followed by aerobic (58.3%) and resistance exercise (48.5%). For executive function, aerobic exercise ranked highest (SUCRA = 90.8%), followed by multicomponent (50.7%) and resistance exercise (38.1%). For memory function, exercise did not show a statistically significant benefit compared to control (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.68). GRADE evaluation showed direct comparisons had moderate certainty, whereas most indirect and mixed network comparisons had very low certainty.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that exercise-induced cognitive benefits in sedentary adults are domain-specific, supporting tailored prescriptions such as aerobic exercise for executive control and multicomponent training for broader cognitive support.
Limits
Certainty of evidence was rated very low for most indirect and mixed comparisons under the GRADE framework. Memory outcomes lacked a connected network and showed imprecise estimates crossing the null. Specific exercise parameters (dose, frequency, duration) and detailed participant characteristics were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Meta-analyses show that various types of exercise improve cognitive function, executive function, global cognition, and memory.