Background
Methods
Eligibility criteria
Working memory tests
Search strategy
Risk of bias assessment
Data synthesis and analysis
Results
Study selection
Study characteristics
Citation | Sample characteristics | Study characteristics | Inclusion/Exclusion criteria | Instrument(s) | Did working memory improve? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown, 2009 |
N = 154 Age: 62 to 95 M = 79.6 % Female: 88 | Allocation: cluster randomization Blinding: No Attrition: 18% | Inclusion: NR Exclusion: neurological, cardiovascular or musculoskeletal problem that precluded safe exercise participation, <20 MMSE, already attending exercise classes | WAIS-R Digit Span Forward and Backward | No |
Budde, 2010 |
N = 60 Age: 15 to 16 M = 14.37 % Female: 43 | Allocation: randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 2% | Inclusion: absence of dyslexia, a maximum BMI of 25, absence of mental or physical impairments, and no history of psychoactive substances Exclusion: NR | Letter Digit Span | Yes, but only for low performers |
Chang, 2011 |
N = 42 Age: NR M = 21.97 % Female: 69 | Allocation: mixed randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 0% | Inclusion: healthy history questionnaire, IPAQ, PAR-Q “no” for all responses, assessments to ensure no potential risk factors to impair aerobic exercise Exclusion: NR | Tower of London | Yes |
Fisher, 2011 |
N = 64 Age: NR M = 6.1 % Female: 55 | Allocation: randomization Blinding: Yes Attrition: 3% | Inclusion: no diagnosed cognitive disorder, physical impairments Exclusion: reaction time to ANT is <200 ms indicating anticipatory responding | CANTAB Spatial Working Memory Errors | Yes |
Hariprasad, 2013 |
N = 120 Age: ≥60 Intervention: M = 75.74 Control: M = 74.78 % Female: 83 | Allocation: block randomization Blinding: Yes Attrition: 28% | Inclusion: >60 year olds from consenting elderly homes Exclusion: “using MINI to exclude dementia or other neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, major depressive disorder, psychosis, anxiety disorder, severe hearing and visual impairment and inability to perform yoga practices; evaluated by clinician to rule out depression, dementia, and other psychiatric disorders; scores of >4 GDS, <26 HMSE excluded” | WMS Digit Span and WMS Spatial Span | Yes |
Hogan, 2013 |
N = 144 Age: 19 to 93 Intervention: M = 51.34 Control: M = 50.79 % Female: 49 | Allocation: stratified randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 0% | Inclusion: negative response for all PAR-Q, score of ≥23 MMSE, or received verbal permission from his or her doctor for participation Exclusion: NR | N-back task (2-back) | Yes, faster reaction times reported |
Chen, 2014 |
N = 87 Age: 3rd and 5th grade 3rd grade: 9.18 5th grade: 11.11 % Female: 48 | Allocation: stratification randomization Blinding: No Attrition: 0% | Inclusion: “scores of PAR-Q = 6, >90 WISC-IV-C, >160 SCL-90-C, no attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, right handed, normal or corrected-to-normal vision, not color-blinded, and not be taking psychoactive medications” Exclusion: NR | N-back task (2-back) modified | Yes, but only for 5th grade group |
Gothe, 2014 |
N = 118 Age: 55 to 79 M = 62.0 % Female: 83 | Allocation: randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 8% | Inclusion: “participants had to be between 55 and 79 years of age, scores of >21 TICS, ≥5 GDS required, English speaking, report being sedentary for at least the previous 6 months, have no on-going regular yoga practice, be able to get up and down from the floor, have good or corrected vision (20/40), and be willing to be randomized into one of two exercise groups” Exclusion: NR | N-back task (1-back and 2-back) | Yes |
Nouchi, 2014 |
N = 64 Age: 60 and older Intervention: M = 75.74 Control: M = 67.06 % Female: NR | Allocation: randomization Blinding: Yes Attrition: 5% | Inclusion: “right-handed, native Japanese speakers, unconcerned about their own memory functions, not using medications known to interfere with cognitive functions, and having no disease known to affect the central nervous system; did not exercise regularly, not members of a gym/health club, and not participating in another exercise study” Exclusion: scores of <85 JART, <26 MMSE, 12 < FAB, participation in other cognitive-related studies | WAIS Digit Span Forward and Backward | No |
Vaughn, 2014 |
N = 49 Age: 65 to 75 Intervention: M = 69.0 Control: M = 68.8 % Female: 100 | Allocation: randomization Blinding: Yes Attrition: 2% | Inclusion: screening via age, gender, amount of weekly exercise, ability to walk 20 m, availability, TICS, PAR-Q Exclusion: cognitive impairment via ≥31 TICS, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or recent head injury | Letter-Number Sequencing | Yes |
Bantoft, 2015 |
N = 45 Age: NR M = 22.67 % Female: 71 | Allocation: counterbalanced randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 0% | Inclusion: screening via WTAR, HADS Exclusion: pregnancy, heath conditions (i.e. heart disease, chronic back pain) | Digit Span Forward and Backward WAIS Letter-Number Sequencing | No |
Basso, 2015 |
N = 92 Age: 18 to 35 M = 22.21 % Female: 60 | Allocation: randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 8% | Inclusion: NR Exclusion: had major surgery within prior 6 months, past or present history of drug or alcohol abuse, had a diagnosed psychiatric or neurological condition, taking medication known to affect cognition, unable to safely participate in an aerobic exercise program | Digit Span | Yes |
Howie, 2015 |
N = 96 Age: 9 to 12 M = 10.7 % Female: 65 | Allocation: randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 2 | Inclusion: NR Exclusion: NR | Digit Span modified | No |
Albinet, 2016 |
N = 41 Age: 60 to 80 Intervention: M = 67 Control: M = 66 % Female: 72 | Allocation: randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 12% | Inclusion: screened by personal physician “who rated them as being in good health”, retired, aged between 60 and 80 years, ≥26 MMSE, physically sedentary via DSPA, able to swim, agreement to be randomized Exclusion: taking medication that could affect cardiovascular health or cognitive functions, carrying a pacemaker, cardiorespiratory or neurological disease, major surgery within one year prior to testing | N-back task (2-back) Spatial Running Span task Verbal Running Span task | Yes |
Chapman, 2016 |
N = 67 Age: 56 to 75 Intervention M = 63.5 Control M = 64 % Female: 73 | Allocation: block randomization Blinding: NR Attrition: 18% | Inclusion: no history of neurological or psychiatric conditions, normal IQ range, native English speakers, and minimum of high school diploma Exclusion: MR scanning contraindications, cognitive status (TICS-M <28 and MoCA <26), depression indication (BDI-II >14), left-handedness, body mass (BMI >40, kg/m2) | Reading Span Task (Daneman Carpenter) | No |
Citation | Intervention modality | Intensity | Volume (min) | Frequency | Duration | Format | Setting | Control condition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown, 2009 | Resistance, balance training, motor fitness | NR | 60 | 2 days/week | 6 months | Group | Retirement Village | No-exercise |
Budde, 2010 | Running | Moderate | 12 | 1 session | 1 session | Group | 400-m track | Sedentary |
Vigorous | ||||||||
Chang, 2011 | Aerobic exercise via cycle ergometer | Moderate to vigorous | 30 | 1 session | 1 session | Individual | Laboratory | Health education |
Fisher, 2011 | Aerobic exercise | Moderate to vigorous | 120 | 2 days/week | 10 weeks | Group | Primary school | Skill development |
Hariprasad, 2013 | Yoga | NR | 60 | Daily in Month 1, weekly in Month 2 and 3 | 6 months | Group | Old-age home | Waitlist |
Hogan, 2013 | Stationary cycling | Moderate | 15 | 1 session | 1 session | Individual | Laboratory | Health education |
Chen, 2014 | Jogging | Moderate | 30 | 1 session | 1 session | Group | School | Health education |
Gothe, 2014 | Hatha yoga | NR | 60 | 3 days/week | 8 weeks | Group | Community center | Stretching-strengthening |
Nouchi, 2014 | Aerobic, strength, stretching | Moderate to vigorous | 48 | 3 days/week | 4 weeks | Group | Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture, Japan | Waitlist |
Vaughn, 2014 | Aerobic, strength, stretching | NR | 60 | 2 days/week | 16 weeks | Group | Community center | Waitlist |
Bantoft, 2015 | Walking via treadmill | Low | ≤60 | 1 session | 1 session | Individual | Laboratory | Sit workstation |
Basso, 2015 | Aerobic exercise via stationary bicycle | Vigorous | 50 | 1 session | 1 session | Individual | Laboratory | Video watching group |
Howie, 2015 | Aerobic exercise via Brain BITES | Moderate to vigorous | 10 | 1 session | 1 session | Group | School | Sedentary classroom activity |
Albinet, 2016 | Aquaerobics and swimming | Moderate to vigorous | 60 | 2 days/week | 5 months | Group | Senior community center | Stretching-flexibility exercises |
Chapman, 2016 | Aerobic exercise | Moderate to vigorous | 60 | 3 days/week | 12 weeks | Individual | Laboratory | Waitlist |