Resistance exercise ranked highest for neuropsychiatric symptoms in cognitive impairment
A research synthesis favored resistance exercise for this outcome, but limited evidence and problems in the abstract's other estimates call for caution.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review ranked resistance exercise highest for reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia. However, the authors emphasized that few studies examined resistance exercise. The ranking is a comparative result within this evidence network, and it does not establish a reliably superior exercise choice for every person in these clinical groups.
Resistance-exercise evidence was limited, and study risk of bias varied. The abstract also omits intervention durations and the reference groups behind effect estimates, restricting interpretation of the reported comparisons.
The evidence behind the ranking
The review combined randomized trials with quasi-experimental studies. Risk-of-bias assessments ranged from low to high among the trials, so the highest-ranked approach should be considered alongside the amount and quality of evidence supporting it.
Other outcome estimates are unclear
Separate analyses ranked other exercise approaches highest for cognition, quality of life and daily activities. However, their reported confidence intervals contain internally inconsistent signs or bounds, so those effect sizes cannot be reliably interpreted from this abstract.
The original publication
Effectiveness of various exercise on neuropsychiatric symptoms among older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Kong Q, Huang K, Li S et al.
Ageing Res Rev · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40902673
- Record checked
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