A meta-regression to examine the relationship between aerobic fitness and cognitive performance

Abstract

Many studies have been conducted to test the potentially beneficial effects of physical activity on cognition. The results of meta-analytic reviews of this literature suggest that there is a positive association between participation in physical activity and cognitive performance. The design of past research demonstrates the tacit assumption that changes in aerobic fitness contribute to the changes in cognitive performance. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to use meta-regression techniques to statistically test the relationship between aerobic fitness and cognitive performance. Results indicated that there was not a significant linear or curvilinear relationship between fitness effect sizes (ESs) and cognitive ESs for studies using cross-sectional designs or posttest comparisons. However, there was a significant negative relationship between aerobic fitness and cognitive performance for pre-post comparisons. The effects for the cross-sectional and pre-post comparisons were moderated by the age group of the participants; however, the nature of this effect was not consistent for the two databases. Based on the findings of this meta-analytic review, it is concluded that the empirical literature does not support the cardiovascular fitness hypothesis. To confirm the findings of this review, future research should specifically test the dose-response relationship between aerobic fitness and cognitive performance. However, based upon the findings of this review, we also encourage future research to focus on other physiological and psychological variables that may serve to mediate the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance.

The influence of physical exercise and leisure activity on neuropsychological functioning in older adults

“…In general, the training group improved more in their mental control, sustained attention, immediate memory, verbal working memory, response speed, visuomotor coordination, visuospatial constructional ability, visual memory and learning, episodic memory, short-and long-term memory, executive functioning, reaction speed, and accuracy in executing simple tasks compared to the other groups. These results are in agreement with the findings of several reports of improved neuropsychological functioning in individuals who participate in regular physical exercise, and they suggest that a program that constitutes physical exercise could be used to improve neuropsychological aspects in older adults (Etnier et al 2006).…”

“…However, a growing body of literature suggests that age-related declines in neuropsychological aspects can be reduced by using alternative interventions, such as physical exercise (Etnier et al 2006;Colcombe and Kramer 2003;Kravitz et al 2012). Furthermore, physical exercise reduces the risk of diseases that impair neuropsychological functions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (Anstey and Christensen 2000;Lacza and Radák 2013).…”

Home Based Exercise Effects on Cognition in the Semi-Independent Elderly

“…While previous studies 4, [15][16][17][18] have reported that physical fitness confers significant benefits on cognitive function and memory in young adults and in independent older subjects, the current study demonstrated that physical activity can significantly improve cognitive and frontal lobe function in semi-independent elderly individuals, including the physically frail.…”

“…These results corroborate previous findings demonstrating effects of exercise on cognitive and frontal lobe function in healthy elderly subjects. A meta-analysis by Etnier et al 16) found that only four studies in the literature included subjects with a mean age over 70 years, and that among these studies the oldest subjects had a mean age of 73 years. Lautenschlager et al 17) also suggested that there are insufficient data on the effects of exercise in latter-stage elderly subjects.…”

Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health

“…Many studies have been conducted in adults to test the potentially beneficial effects of increases in cardiorespiratory fitness on cognition. 88 However, similar information in young people is lacking. Recently, it has been reported that physical fitness, especially cardiorespiratory fitness, seems to be positively related to academic performance (that is, mathematics, reading and overall performance) in youths.…”