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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Integrative Physiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1543217
Meta-analysis of High-Intensity Interval Training Effects on Cognitive Function in Older Adults and Cognitively Impaired Patients
Provisionally accepted- 1 Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, China
- 2 Jiangsu Zhongshan Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- 3 Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- 4 The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Background: Cognitive enhancement treatments are limited, and while High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been suggested to improve cognitive function, high-quality evidence remains scarce. This meta-analysis evaluates the effects of HIIT on cognitive performance compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and control groups in older adults and cognitively Impaired Patients.Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted for articles published until October 10, 2024. Eighteen studies were included, comparing cognitive outcomes across HIIT, MICT, and control groups. Cognitive tests evaluated included the Stroop test, Digit Span Test (DST), Trail Making Test (TMT), and the MOST test.Results: HIIT significantly improved performance compared to MICT in the Stroop test (SMD = -0.8, 95% CI: -1.3 to -0.2) and DST (SMD = 0.3, 95% CI: -0.0 to 0.5). Compared to control groups, HIIT significantly enhanced performance in the TMT (SMD = -0.7, 95% CI: -1.3 to 0.0) and MOST test (SMD = -1.2, 95% CI: -1.8 to -0.7).Conclusion: This meta-analysis supports the efficacy of HIIT in enhancing cognitive functions, particularly in cognitive flexibility, working memory, task switching, attention control, and inhibitory control. These findings suggest that HIIT can be an effective intervention for improving cognitive behavior in older adults and cognitively Impaired Patients.
Keywords: High-intensity interval training, Cognitive Function, moderateintensity continuous training, Exercise, cognitive flexibility, Attention
Received: 15 Dec 2024; Accepted: 17 Feb 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Zeng, Nie, Xu, Zhang, Qiu and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Yongqiang Li, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.