PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND COGNITIVE HEALTH IN AGING: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Objective: To analyze the available scientific evidence on the effects of physical exercise on cognitive health in older adults. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS/BVS, SciELO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, covering publications from 2020 to 2026. Original studies involving individuals aged 60 years or older, or samples with a mean age of 60 years or older, that investigated the relationship between physical exercise and cognitive outcomes were included. The selection process was conducted by two independent reviewers and guided by the PRISMA 2020 recommendations. Results: A total of 3,284 records were identified, of which 12 studies comprised the final sample. The findings showed beneficial effects of physical exercise mainly on specific cognitive domains, including attention, executive functions, inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, and processing speed. Findings regarding global cognition were heterogeneous, and no consistent superiority of a specific exercise modality or intensity was identified. Baseline cognitive status, physiological response to training, and continuity of exercise emerged as potentially relevant factors influencing the observed effects. Conclusion: Physical exercise has the potential to contribute to the preservation of cognitive health in aging, particularly in specific cognitive domains. However, the heterogeneity of the evidence does not support the identification of a universally superior exercise modality, intensity, or duration, highlighting the importance of individualized prescription and further studies with greater methodological standardization.