Aerobic exercise showed no clear cognitive benefit in older adults with HIV
Compared with stretching and flexibility, a home aerobic program did not produce statistically clear cognitive improvement in older adults with HIV, cognitive impairment and cardiovascular risk factors.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
In older adults with HIV and existing cognitive difficulties, the home aerobic program did not show a statistically significant improvement in cognitive function compared with stretching and flexibility. Neither group showed a statistically clear change within itself. Participants generally stayed in the study and reported high satisfaction, but those features do not demonstrate cognitive benefit.
The abstract provides no cognitive effect estimate, confidence interval or details of the cognitive tests. The null result cannot establish equivalence between the programs or rule out a smaller effect.
What researchers found
Cognitive function
Over 1 year, aerobic exercise showed no statistically significant change versus stretching and flexibility or within either group; no effect size was reported.
The specific question tested
The trial asked whether aerobic exercise changed cognitive function in a specific clinical group. Participants already had mild cognitive impairment and cardiovascular risk factors, so this result does not describe everyone living with HIV.
Participation and cognitive outcomes
Retention and satisfaction describe participation, rather than effectiveness. They indicate that the trial kept participants involved, while the primary cognitive outcome still failed to show a statistically clear improvement.
The original publication
Healing hearts and mending minds (FitBrain): a home-based aerobic exercise intervention to improve cognitive outcomes in older persons living with HIV.
Waldrop D, Murden R, Irwin C et al.
AIDS Care · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40736361
- Record checked
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