The effects of multi-session resistance exercise on cognitive function in healthy adults: A systematic research review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention trials assessed using RoB 2.
PubMed 42508500 · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2026.103277
What was done
Authors conducted a PRISMA-guided, PROSPERO-registered systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the cognitive effects of multi-session resistance exercise in healthy adults. Electronic databases were searched for eligible trials, which were appraised for risk of bias using RoB 2. Cognitive outcomes were mapped onto the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) framework (global cognition, executive function, working memory, processing speed, and episodic memory) and synthesized using random-effects generic inverse variance meta-analyses.
What was found
The abstract does not report numeric effect sizes, sample sizes, or confidence intervals. Directionally, multi-session resistance exercise was associated with improvements in global cognition, executive function, working memory, and processing speed. No consistent overall benefit was observed for episodic memory retrieval, which exhibited substantial variability across studies.
Why it matters
This review demonstrates that the cognitive benefits of resistance training in healthy adults are domain-specific rather than generalized, selectively enhancing executive processes, working memory, and processing speed. This helps refine exercise recommendations for targeted cognitive health maintenance.
Limits
The abstract does not disclose the number of included studies or total participant count. Findings are constrained by substantial between-study heterogeneity, limited evidence in specific cognitive domains, and variation in exercise duration, intensity, and cognitive testing protocols.
Cited by
- supports Meta-analyses show that various types of exercise improve cognitive function, executive function, global cognition, and memory.