Frontiers in Public Health · Nov 14, 2026
Effects of Information and Communication Technology-Based Mind-Body Exercise on Cognitive and Physical Function in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
By Fang Feng, Haoxuan Zou, Yueyang Zhuang et al.
Background: Mind-body exercise (MBE) is recommended as a first-line non-pharmacological intervention for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but conventional in-person delivery is often limited by access and adherence. The overall effects of MBE delivered with information and communication technology (ICT) on cognitive and physical function remain unclear. Purpose: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of ICT-based MBE in patients with MCI. Methods: Ten databases were searched from inception to March 13, 2026, with additional manual screening of reference lists. Randomized controlled trials comparing ICT-based MBE with control interventions were included. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Random-effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses were performed. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251208488) and followed PRISMA 2020 guidance. Results: Seven RCTs involving 730 participants were included. ICT-based MBE significantly improved global cognition (SMD = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.25–4.94, P = 0.001) and reported significant benefits across multiple cognitive domains (all P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses suggested that benefits could be detected after a 12-week intervention. However, excluding the influential study by F. Li et al. (2023) substantially attenuated the pooled effect, indicating that the overall estimate was strongly influenced by this study. The prediction interval also indicated considerable uncertainty about the effects expected in future studies. Given the substantial heterogeneity and sensitivity of the pooled estimate, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Conclusion: ICT-based MBE may benefit cognitive and physical function in people with MCI, although the pooled effect is strongly influenced by a single influential study. A 12-week program may be a promising option for scalable, home-based rehabilitation, but the optimal intervention parameters remain unclear. Large, multicenter RCTs are needed to confirm efficacy and determine appropriate intervention protocols.