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Evidence summaries

Physical Fitness and Cognitive Functioning

Different forms of exercise may be beneficial for cognitive performance. Level of evidence: "C"

A systematic review 1 including 134 studies was abstracted in DARE. The overall mean effect size for all of the studies was 0.25 (SD = 0.69, p=0.05) suggesting that exercise improves cognitive functioning by a small positive effect.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (insufficient data from the individual studies and limitations in the review process).

    References

    • Ethier JL, Salazar W, Landers DM, Petruzzello SJ, Han M, Nowell P. The influence of physical fitness and exercise upon cognitive functioning: a meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 1997;19:249–77. [DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords