Clinical Focus ›› 2025, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (10): 874-892.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-583X.2025.10.002

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Different kinesiotherapies in improving global cognitive function and executive function in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment: A network meta-analysis

Li Yongjing, Gao Chungang, Zhang Jinlong, Song Shuhua()   

  1. School of Physical Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
  • Received:2025-09-28 Online:2025-10-20 Published:2025-10-31
  • Contact: Song Shuhua E-mail:1057955454@qq.com

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Abstract:

Objective To comprehensively evaluate and compare the results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of different kinesiotherapies through meta-analysis and network meta-analysis, thus obtaining the optimal intervention type and exercise program. Methods Databases including CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, CBM, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, and Science Direct were systematically searched, with the retrieval period from the database establishment to July 2025. Network meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software and Stata 18 software. Results A total of 37 RCTs were finally included. The overall meta-analysis showed that exercise had a significant intervention effect on the global cognitive function (standardized mean difference [SMD]=0.70) and executive function (SMD=-0.44) of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Subgroup analysis found that in terms of global cognitive function, the effect sizes were higher for dual-task exercise (SMD=1.8), a frequency of 5 times/week (SMD=2.47), a dose of ≥51 min/session (SMD=1.14), and 24 weeks of exercise (SMD=1.99). In terms of executive function, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (SMD=-0.96), 50 min/session (SMD=-6.5), 5 times/week (SMD=-0.96), and 16 weeks of exercise (SMD=-1.81) all achieved large effect sizes. Network meta-analysis showed that in terms of global cognitive function, the top three intervention effects compared with the control group were high-speed resistance exercise (SMD=4.49, surface under the cumulative ranking curve [SUCRA]=94.2%), followed by the multi-component exercise (SMD=3.43, SUCRA=77.4%) and mind-body exercise (SMD=3.29, SUCRA=67.1%). In terms of executive function, the top three intervention effects compared with the control group were dual-task exercise (SMD=-38.89, SUCRA=88.6%), followed by resistance exercise (SMD=-26.78, SUCRA=63.4%) and aerobic exercise (SMD=-24.06, SUCRA=58.7%). Conclusion The exercise protocol of high-speed resistance exercise, with an intervention frequency of 5 times/week, an intervention dose of ≥51 min/session, and a period of 24 weeks, brings more benefits to the global cognitive function ability of patients with mild cognitive impairment; in terms of executive function, dual-task exercise, with an intervention frequency of 5 times/week, an intervention dose of >50 min/session, and a period of 16 weeks, can significantly improve their function. Due to the limited number of included studies in this aspect, further verification is needed.

Key words: mild cognitive impairment, cognitive function, executive function, exercise, network meta-analysis

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