Effects of mind-body exercise on cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis study

BACKGROUND: To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of physical and mental exercise on cognitive performance in middle-aged people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Computer searches of PubMed, Web of science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Service, Wanfang database, China Knowledge Network, and VIP full-text database of Veep journals were conducted to obtain clinical randomized controlled trials on physical and mental exercise interventions in middle-aged and elderly people with MCI. The literature was screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the final included literature was subjected to data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4.1 software, and publication bias test was performed using stata17.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 27 publications with a total of 2565 cases of elderly people with MCI were included. The control group was conventional care, health education, or blank control, and the physical and mental exercise group was exercises including Tai Chi, dance, orthopraxia, and qigong for 30 to 90 minutes each time, 3 to 6 times per week, for a total duration of 8 to 36 weeks. Meta-analysis results showed that Montreal cognitive assessment scores (mean difference [MD] = 2.33, 95% CI [1.55, 3.10], P < .00001), the mini-mental state examination score (MD = 1.73, 95% CI [0.60, 2.86], P = .003), trail making test-A score (MD = −4.00, 95% CI [−6.75, −1.25], P = .004), trail making test-B score (MD = -18.46, 95% CI [−23.87, −13.06], P < .00001), global deterioration scale score (MD = −0.72, 95% CI [−1.09, −0.34], P = .0002), Wechsler Logical Memory Scale score (MD = 2.07, 95% CI [0.03, 4.10], P = .05), berg score (MD = −0.70, 95% CI [0.32, 1.07], P < .0003), cerebrospinal fluid Tau protein level (MD = −166.69, 95% CI [−196.93, −136.45], P < .00001), and cerebrospinal fluid levels of αβ(1–42) protein (MD = 180.39, 95% CI [134.24, 226.55], P < .00001). CONCLUSION: Mind-body exercise can improve cognitive performance, depressive status, and balance as well as increase αβ(1–42) protein levels and decrease Tau protein levels in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment.