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

Wei Guo, Ming Zang, Sebastian Klich, Adam Kawczyński, Małgorzata Smoter and Biye Wang
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Wei Guo: College of Physical Education, 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

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-19

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.

Keywords: combined physical and cognition interventions; executive functions; meta-analysis; older adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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