Effects of chronic physical exercise on executive functions and episodic memory in clinical and healthy older adult populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-024-02517-0
archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified
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Summary
This document outlines the protocol for a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis designed to evaluate the effectiveness of chronic physical exercise on executive functions (EFs) and episodic memory in older adults. The research is motivated by the rapid global aging population and the well-documented decline in cognitive functions that threaten independent living. While previous meta-analyses have examined exercise effects on cognition, they often focused narrowly on specific populations (e.g., only healthy or only demented individuals) or specific exercise modes (e.g., only aerobic training). This study aims to address these gaps by synthesizing evidence across both healthy and clinical older adult populations and a broad range of exercise interventions. The methodology adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and is registered with PROSPERO. The review will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English, involving participants with a mean age of at least 60 years. Eligible interventions include any planned, structured, and repetitive exercise lasting at least three months, such as aerobic, resistance, coordination, tai chi, qigong, dance, and exergaming. Outcomes are restricted to objectively assessed EFs (inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and higher-order functions) and episodic memory, measured at baseline and post-intervention. Data extraction will be conducted by independent reviewers, with conflicts resolved by a third party. Study quality will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Statistical analysis will employ a three-level random-effects meta-analysis using the `metafor` package in R to account for non-independence among effect sizes within studies. The primary metric will be Hedges’s g. The analysis seeks to answer six research questions, including the global effect of exercise on cognition, the differential impact of various exercise types, and the moderating roles of control group type, health status (healthy vs. clinical conditions like MCI, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s), age, and exercise characteristics (duration and intensity). Publication bias will be evaluated using funnel plots, Egger’s regression test, the trim-and-fill method, and P-curve analysis. The significance of this protocol lies in its comprehensive scope, which extends beyond previous reviews by including diverse exercise modes and both healthy and unhealthy older adults. By identifying which exercise interventions are most effective for specific cognitive domains and populations, the findings aim to inform the design of targeted exercise programs. These results are intended to assist researchers, clinicians, and caregivers in developing evidence-based strategies to mitigate cognitive decline and support the independent living of older adults.
Provenance
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| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | OpenAlex-citations | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-20 |
| archive | success | unpaywall | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-26 |
| extract | success | cached | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-26 |
| clean | success | clean | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-20 |
| chunk | success | chunk | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-20 |
| embed | success | embed | Qwen/Qwen3-Embedding-8B | — | 1 | 2026-06-20 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-20 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 6 | 2026-06-20 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.
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- Synthesis & Review: quantitative synthesis