Cognitive training + exercise
Cognitive training + exercise has been studied in 28 papers since 2016: 13 trials and 1 observational study in people, 1 in animals, 10 reviews; 8 in the past year.
28 papers study it38 findingsUpdated
Research on it is growing 258% faster than aging research as a whole: 10 papers in the latest year counted
See all 27 papers on cognitive training + exercise
At a glance
Independent labs found the same change in people. 18 independent labs in 11 countries.
“Exercises combined with cognitive training showed the greatest gains in gait speed at 6-month endpoint (P < .001) and in reducing falls at 12-month endpoint (IRR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.05-0.77, P = .02)”
1 of its findings points the other way.
- 18 independent labs in 11 countries
- 1 finding against
- Funders: Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency and others
- 2 of 37 findings with company ties
- Human trial13
- Humans1
- Animals1
Studies in people
See all 11 studies of cognitive training + exercise in people11 studies gave cognitive training + exercise to people and measured what changed.
| What changed | Design | People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
up: Improves physical functionP < 0.05 | Trial4 weeks | 25 people≥ 65 yearsOlder adults | BMC geriatrics, May 16, 2026 |
up: Improves cognitive function down: Decreases neuropsychiatric symptoms | Randomized trial12 weeks | older adultsOlder adults; Patient cohorts | Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, Dec 8, 2025 |
no change: Has no effect on physical function | Trialfour months | 33 people16 malesbetween 65 and 90 yearsCommunity-dwelling older adults living near the Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences | Cureus, Nov 29, 2025 |
| Randomized trial20-week | 175 people83 (51.6%) femalemean (SD) age, 73.1 (6.6) yearsOlder adults with MCI | Age and ageing, Aug 29, 2025 | |
up: Improves executive functioningF = 4.127, p = 0.046, ηp2 = 0.050 | Randomized trialsix months | 106 people65.20 ± 7.95Older adults | Experimental gerontology, Nov 7, 2024 |
What did studies of cognitive training + exercise find?
17Studies of cognitive training + exercise measured 17 outcomes; the most studied are cognitive function (11 studies), physical function (6) and depressive symptoms (2).
Cognitive function
upin humans11
11 studies
Cognitive function
upin humans11
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in dementia patients (P < 0.001).
“the MMSE, MoCA, BBS, ADL, and WHOQOL-BREF scores in both groups had increased from baseline, with the study group showing higher scores than the control group (P < 0.001).”
Human trialin dementia patients12 weeks
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in humans.
“the CA-MECT participants showed potential improvements in global cognition, immediate recall, attention”
Human trialvideoconferencing12 weeks
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (p < 0.05).
“PE + CSG demonstrated significant improvement in cognition, balance, FM, UEMS, IADL and reduction in depression compared to the CG (p < 0.05).”
Human trialin patients with Alzheimer's disease12 weeksn = 60
Complementary therapies in clinical practice
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in humans (amnestic mild cognitive impairment).
“all participants experienced significant improvement in the delayed recall of word list, learning and memory and executive function.”
Human trialamnestic mild cognitive impairmentn = 72
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in humans after total hip joint replacement surgery (all P<0.05).
“The HVLT-R, HVLT-R delayed recall test, and HVLT-R recognition discriminating index were significantly improved in the exercise group compared with the control group (all P<0.05).”
Human trialafter total hip joint replacement surgeryn = 86
Minerva anestesiologica
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in humans (healthy community-dwelling older adults) (1.68 (0.02 to 3.35)).
“Mini-Mental State Examination scores were maintained in the intervention group but declined in the control group”
Human trialhealthy community-dwelling older adultsn = 33
Physical therapy research
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in humans (mild cognitive impairment).
“revealed that these types of therapies present a significant improvement in memory, attention, and executive functions.”
Reviewmild cognitive impairmentn = 2,256
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in humans (mild cognitive impairment or dementia; compared with exercise).
“combined interventions were superior to exercise in improving response inhibition, working memory, and delayed recall”
Reviewmild cognitive impairment or dementia; compared with exercisen = 2,910
International journal of nursing studies
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in humans (mild cognitive impairment) (MD = 1.86, 95% CI 0.60-3.12).
“combined physical exercise and cognition-based intervention (MD = 1.86, 95% CI 0.60-3.12)”
Reviewmild cognitive impairment
Frontiers in aging neuroscience
Cognitive training + exercise improves cognitive function in humans (mild cognitive impairment or dementia) (SMD 0.32, 95% CI 0.17–0.47, p<0.00).
“combined cognitive-physical interventions on global cognitive function in older adults with MCI or dementia (SMD[95% confidence interval]=0.32[0.17;0.47], p<0.00)”
Reviewmild cognitive impairment or dementia
Ageing research reviews
All 11Fewer
Physical function
upin humans5no changein humans1
6 studies
Physical function
upin humans5no changein humans1
Cognitive training + exercise improves physical function in humans (P < 0.05).
“preliminary changes were observed in MMSE, RBANS-attention, BBS, and MBI scores (P < 0.05).”
Human trial4 weeksn = 25
BMC geriatrics
Cognitive training + exercise improves physical function in dementia patients (P < 0.001).
“the MMSE, MoCA, BBS, ADL, and WHOQOL-BREF scores in both groups had increased from baseline, with the study group showing higher scores than the control group (P < 0.001).”
Human trialin dementia patients12 weeks
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Cognitive training + exercise showed no clear effect on physical function in humans (dual task (DT) training).
“In the DT group, no significant differences were observed in any of the measurement scales before and after the intervention.”
Human trialdual task (DT) trainingfour monthsn = 16
Cureus
Cognitive training + exercise improves physical function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (p < 0.05).
“PE + CSG demonstrated significant improvement in cognition, balance, FM, UEMS, IADL and reduction in depression compared to the CG (p < 0.05).”
Human trialin patients with Alzheimer's disease12 weeksn = 60
Complementary therapies in clinical practice
Cognitive training + exercise improves physical function in humans (amnestic mild cognitive impairment).
“Only the CARE+CT condition had significant improvement in processing speed and functional capacity.”
Human trialamnestic mild cognitive impairmentn = 72
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Cognitive training + exercise improves physical function in older adults with T2DM.
“Exercise combined with cognitive training showed more pronounced improvement in muscle strength, gait speed, and dynamic balance”
Reviewin older adults with T2DM
Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition
Depressive symptoms
downin humans2
2 studies
Depressive symptoms
downin humans2
Cognitive training + exercise decreases depressive symptoms in dementia patients (P < 0.001).
“The HAMA, HAMD, and TUGT scores in both groups had decreased from baseline, with the study group showing lower scores than the control group (P < 0.001).”
Human trialin dementia patients12 weeks
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Cognitive training + exercise decreases depressive symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease (p < 0.05).
“PE + CSG demonstrated significant improvement in cognition, balance, FM, UEMS, IADL and reduction in depression compared to the CG (p < 0.05).”
Human trialin patients with Alzheimer's disease12 weeksn = 60
Complementary therapies in clinical practice
Executive function
upin humans2
2 studies
Executive function
upin humans2
Cognitive training + exercise improves executive function in humans (single exercise component) (SMD = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.05-2.49).
“a single exercise component was most effective for executive function (SMD = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.05-2.49)”
Reviewsingle exercise component
Medicine
Cognitive training + exercise improves executive function in humans (mild cognitive impairment).
“combination of “multiple fitness exercises” and “fitness exercises+cognitive training” can improve executive function and prevent brain atrophy”
Reviewmild cognitive impairment
Preprint
Falls
downin humans1
1 study
Falls
downin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise decreases falls in humans (arm 2 compared to the control at month 12) (IRR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.77).
“Falls rate at month 12 was significantly lower in arm 1 (Ex+Cog+VitD; IRR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.53; P =.01) and arm 2 (Ex+Cog; IRR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.77; P =.02) compared to the control.”
Human trialarm 2 compared to the control at month 1220-week
Age and ageing
Cognitive training + exercise decreases falls in humans (mild cognitive impairment) (IRR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.05-0.77, P = .02).
“Exercises combined with cognitive training showed the greatest gains in gait speed at 6-month endpoint (P < .001) and in reducing falls at 12-month endpoint (IRR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.05-0.77, P = .02)”
Human trialmild cognitive impairment12-month endpointn = 161
Age and ageing
Spontaneous gait speed
upin humans1
1 study
Spontaneous gait speed
upin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise improves spontaneous gait speed in humans.
“Data analysis showed a statistically significant main effect for time x group interaction (F(1,41) = 18.33, p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.31).”
Human trial12 weeksn = 44
Aging clinical and experimental research
Cognitive training + exercise improves spontaneous gait speed in humans (+ 0.07 s, p < 0.001).
“an improvement of SGS in EXP group (+ 0.07 s; p < 0.001).”
Human trial12 weeksn = 44
Aging clinical and experimental research
Functional brain connectivity
upin humans1
1 study
Functional brain connectivity
upin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise increases functional brain connectivity in humans.
“For model two, post-hoc tests showed that the significant between-arm increases (T6-T0) were for both intervention arms relative to the PC (PE&CT; Cluster: size = 265 p-FDR < 0.05 / PE&CTc; Cluster: size = 334 p-FDR < 0.01).”
Human trial20-weeks
GeroScience
Cognitive training + exercise increases functional brain connectivity in humans (mild cognitive impairment) (p-FDR < 0.001).
“with cognitive training (model two; p-FDR = < 0.001), and all three interventions combined (model four; p-FDR = < 0.01) demonstrated an increase in FBC between regions of the Default-Mode Network”
Human trialmild cognitive impairmentbrain20-weeksn = 120
GeroScience
Quality of life
upin humans1
1 study
Quality of life
upin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise improves quality of life in dementia patients (P < 0.001).
“the MMSE, MoCA, BBS, ADL, and WHOQOL-BREF scores in both groups had increased from baseline, with the study group showing higher scores than the control group (P < 0.001).”
Human trialin dementia patients12 weeks
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Neuropsychiatric symptoms
downin humans1
1 study
Neuropsychiatric symptoms
downin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise decreases neuropsychiatric symptoms in humans.
“potential improvements in global cognition, immediate recall, attention, number and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS)”
Human trialvideoconferencing12 weeks
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD
Memory
upin humans1
1 study
Memory
upin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise improves memory in humans (network meta-analysis) (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.13-0.73).
“interventions with 2 (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.06-0.42) and 3 or more components (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.13-0.73) improved memory”
Reviewnetwork meta-analysis
Medicine
Executive functioning
upin humans1
1 study
Executive functioning
upin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise improves executive functioning in humans (F = 4.127, p = 0.046, ηp2 = 0.050).
“Results showed a greater Z-score change in executive functioning for participants in the combined arm than those who only exercised (F = 4.127, p = 0.046, ηp2 = 0.050).”
Human trialsix monthsn = 106
Experimental gerontology
Selective attention
no changein humans1
1 study
Selective attention
no changein humans1
Cognitive training + exercise showed no clear effect on selective attention in humans.
“Conversely, no significant group x time interaction was observed for Selective Attention (F(1,41) = 2.31, p = 0.136, ŋ2 = 0.053) and Divided Attention (F(1,41) = 0.001, p = 0.977, ŋ2 = 0.00).”
Human trial12 weeksn = 44
Aging clinical and experimental research
Alertness
upin humans1
1 study
Alertness
upin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise improves alertness in humans.
“Repeated− measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of group (EXP vs. CON) x time (pre- vs. post-) interaction for Alertness test results (F(1,41) = o6.15, p = 0.017, ŋ2 = 0.13) in favor of the EXP group.”
Human trial12 weeksn = 44
Aging clinical and experimental research
All 17Fewer
What is cognitive training + exercise linked with?
1Studies link cognitive training + exercise with neurocognitive disorders.
Neurocognitive disorders
downin humans1
1 study
Neurocognitive disorders
downin humans1
Cognitive training + exercise lowers the risk of neurocognitive disorders in humans after total hip joint replacement surgery (10% (5/50) vs 27.8% (10/36), P=0.032).
“The incidence of NCD in the exercise group (10%, 5/50) was significantly lower than that in the control group (27.8%, 10/36) (P=0.032).”
Human trialafter total hip joint replacement surgeryn = 86
Minerva anestesiologica