Nonlinear dose-response of mind-body exercise in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
4 affiliations
- 1School of Physical Education, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- 2School of Sport Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- 3School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- 4Graduate School of Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to quantify domain-specific dose-response relationships between mind-body exercise and cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to derive actionable dosing recommendation. Methods: Eight major electronic databases were systematically searched up to September 15, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mind-body exercise intervention in individuals aged ≥60 years with MCI that reported at least one cognitive domain outcome were included. Hedges’g effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models, and dose-response relationships were examined using restricted cubic spline regression. Results: Twenty-seven RCTs (2034 participants) were included. Moderate-certainty evidence supported improvements in global cognition (Hedges’ g: 0.67, 95% CI: [0.49, 0.78]) and processing speed (0.45 [0.3, 0.6]). Global cognition exhibited a U-shaped weekly dose-response, with 240 min/week as the relative nadir that still yielded a significant pooled effect (0.37; [0.19, 0.55]); longer intervention durations significantly amplified this overall response (β = 0.012, p < 0.05), and achieving significant benefit at this dose required ≥11 weeks intervention. Memory followed a similar pattern, but with very low certainty. Processing speed showed a U-shaped cumulative dose-response (nadir: 3400 minutes), and this effect was attenuated by weekly dose (β = −0.0011, p < 0.05), yet caution is warranted because the weekly doses in the included studies were heavily clustered. Conclusions: Mind-body exercise produces domain-specific dose-response patterns in older adults with MCI. For global cognition, the observed U-shaped pattern suggests that if 240 min/week dose is adopted clinically, extending intervention to at least 11 weeks is advisable. However, prospective validation of these findings is needed before clinical application.
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BibTeX
@article{peng2026nonlinear,
title = {{Nonlinear dose-response of mind-body exercise in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis}},
author = {Yan-Fang Peng and Xi Chen and Guo-Qing Zhu and Guang-Cai Qu},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0350867},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0350867},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Nonlinear dose-response of mind-body exercise in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Yan-Fang Peng
AU - Xi Chen
AU - Guo-Qing Zhu
AU - Guang-Cai Qu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0350867
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0350867
AB - Objective: This study aimed to quantify domain-specific dose-response relationships between mind-body exercise and cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to derive actionable dosing recommendation. Methods: Eight major electronic databases were systematically searched up to September 15, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mind-body exercise intervention in individuals aged ≥60 years with MCI that reported at least one cognitive domain outcome were included. Hedges’g effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models, and dose-response relationships were examined using restricted cubic spline regression. Results: Twenty-seven RCTs (2034 participants) were included. Moderate-certainty evidence supported improvements in global cognition (Hedges’ g: 0.67, 95% CI: [0.49, 0.78]) and processing speed (0.45 [0.3, 0.6]). Global cognition exhibited a U-shaped weekly dose-response, with 240 min/week as the relative nadir that still yielded a significant pooled effect (0.37; [0.19, 0.55]); longer intervention durations significantly amplified this overall response (β = 0.012, p < 0.05), and achieving significant benefit at this dose required ≥11 weeks intervention. Memory followed a similar pattern, but with very low certainty. Processing speed showed a U-shaped cumulative dose-response (nadir: 3400 minutes), and this effect was attenuated by weekly dose (β = −0.0011, p < 0.05), yet caution is warranted because the weekly doses in the included studies were heavily clustered. Conclusions: Mind-body exercise produces domain-specific dose-response patterns in older adults with MCI. For global cognition, the observed U-shaped pattern suggests that if 240 min/week dose is adopted clinically, extending intervention to at least 11 weeks is advisable. However, prospective validation of these findings is needed before clinical application.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -