The Effect of Physical Exercise on Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review

Vasileios T Stavrou; George D Vavougios; Georgios M Hadjigeorgiou; Panagiotis Bargiotas

doi:10.7759/cureus.73265

The Effect of Physical Exercise on Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review

Cureus. 2024 Nov 8;16(11):e73265. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73265. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Authors

Vasileios T Stavrou^{1

2}, George D Vavougios¹, Georgios M Hadjigeorgiou¹, Panagiotis Bargiotas¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CYP.
² Department of Respiratory Medicine, Laboratory of Cardio-Pulmonary Testing and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, GRC.

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by a noticeable decline in cognitive abilities that is not severe enough to significantly interfere with daily life or independent functioning. Recent research highlights the important role of exercise in managing and improving cognitive function in patients with MCI. This scoping review examines the benefits of different forms of exercise in improving cognitive function. Recommendations for exercise, including frequency, consistency, and individualized programs, are discussed in this review, with an emphasis on the importance of safety and regular monitoring. The integration of physical and cognitive training is also suggested to maximize benefits. Regular physical exercise is a promising intervention for mitigating cognitive decline and improving the overall quality of life in patients with MCI.

Keywords: biomarkers; evidence based; evidence-based; exercise; exercise benefits; exercise modes; health benefits; mci; mild cognitive impairment; neurological biomarkers.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The authors declare that financial support was received from ONISILOS, Co-funding International, Interdisciplinary, and Intersectoral Research Excellence at the University of Cyprus, for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 101034403.