Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Function in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise on cognitive function in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and to identify the optimal exercise prescription. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane, and Scopus was conducted through 13 May 2025. The Cochrane risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: Twenty studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which six were rated as high quality and eleven as moderate quality. A meta-analytic synthesis of 14 eligible studies demonstrated that exercise elicited a significant improvement of cognitive function in ID patients (Hedges' g = 0.85, p < 0.001), with the greatest effect observed for

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12651325 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature