Exercise trials report intelligence gains, but the optimal schedule remains uncertain
A review of randomized trials found improvements across intelligence domains, but the abstract leaves key gaps about comparisons and how confidently exercises can be ranked.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Based on the abstract, exercise interventions were linked to better scores for general, fluid and crystallized intelligence in children and adolescents. Dual-task balance training had the most consistent reported results. However, missing uncertainty estimates and comparison details limit conclusions about which exercise works best, and the findings do not establish a dependable exercise schedule.
The abstract does not identify comparison groups or report uncertainty intervals for its effect estimates. Its proposed schedule comes from dose-response modeling, with no detail here on the model's reliability.
What the review examined
Researchers combined randomized trials using a network meta-analysis, which compared several exercise approaches. They also modeled how exercise amount related to intelligence outcomes, addressing both the type of activity and its schedule.
Interpreting the proposed optimum
Yoga and programs combining exercise components also had positive reported results. A modeled curve suggested diminishing returns at higher exercise amounts, but the abstract does not provide enough detail to judge the proposed optimum.
The original publication
Optimal exercise modalities and dose for enhancing intelligence in children and adolescents: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.
Wang Y, Wang J, Zhang L et al.
Front Physiol · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41624014
- Record checked
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