Does cognitive training improve memory in older adults?
The evidence here does not test cognitive training alone for memory; the memory signal comes from exercise and combined programmes.
Covers: This page reviews evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses on whether structured cognitive training programs improve memory performance in healthy older adults. It does not cover memory improvements from physical exercise, diet, or social engagement, nor does it address treatment for dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
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The short answer
Interpretation AI-prepared starting mapThe evidence available here does not directly test whether structured cognitive training on its own improves memory in healthy older adults. The closest relevant findings come from trials of exercise and of combined programmes in which cognitive training was one component. In a network meta-analysis of 110 randomized controlled trials (8,130 participants), high-intensity interval training ranked highest for memory (SMD 0.58; 95% CrI 0.21, 0.96). In a meta-analysis of 227 trials, exercise combined with an additional component — most often cognitive training or cognitively engaging activity — was significantly better than control for memory, while exercise alone was not significantly better than combined exercise for memory. An umbrella review of 84 primary trials (5,818 participants) found memory was the domain most frequently reported as showing statistically significant benefit (57.1% of trials), though this reflects how often positive findings appeared rather than a pooled effect size.123
- Evidence 15
- Interpretation 5
In brief
High-intensity interval training ranked highest for memory among exercise types in a network meta-analysis of 110 trials (SMD 0.58; 95% CrI 0.21, 0.96).1
Evidence-backedAdding a component such as cognitive training to exercise helped memory versus control but did not beat exercise alone for memory.2
Evidence-backedMemory was the domain most frequently reported as significantly improved (57.1% of trials) in an umbrella review of combined non-pharmacological programmes, though this is a count of positive findings, not a pooled effect.3
Evidence-backedCertainty is limited: at least one meta-analysis reports low certainty of evidence and high risk of bias across studies.4
Evidence-backed
At a glance
The picture in numbers
Live · updated just now
110 trials
57.1%
57 in every 100
- Memory57.1%
- Executive function54.1%
- Global cognition47.1%
- Attention42.9%
The evidence behind it
6 sources- Reviews of many studies5
- Background1
Published in 2026
| Source | Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise-only interventions and exercise-based multidomain lifestyle interventions to promote cognitive function in older adults without dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. | Reviews of many studies | 2026 |
| Effects of Resistance Training on Executive Functions in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis. | Reviews of many studies | 2026 |
| Domain-specific effects of exercise types on cognitive function in healthy older adults: A systematic review with pairwise and Bayesian network meta-analysis. | Reviews of many studies | 2026 |
| Effects of Traditional and Technology-Based Exercise Interventions on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. | Reviews of many studies | 2026 |
| Non-pharmacological interventions for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: an umbrella review. | Reviews of many studies | 2026 |
| Brain training (Wikipedia) | Background | Unknown |
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What it means for you
Which fits you?
Pick the situation closest to yours. Each answer says what it rests on.
If you want the intervention with the strongest memory signal in this material
high-intensity interval training ranked highest for memory among exercise types in a network meta-analysis of 110 trials, though the credible interval is wide.1
Evidence-backedIf you are considering a combined programme of physical and cognitive activity
combined programmes were significantly better than control for memory, and memory was the domain most often reported as improved across 84 trials, but the added value over exercise alone for memory was not established.23
Evidence-backedIf you prefer a technology-assisted approach
virtual reality-based interventions were particularly effective for executive function, memory, and activities of daily living in one meta-analysis, though certainty of evidence is not reported as high.5
Evidence-backedIf you are weighing resistance training specifically for memory
it improved working memory versus control (SMD 0.30; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.59) but showed no advantage over other exercise interventions, and the evidence is low certainty.4
Evidence-backedIf you are looking for a programme structure to follow
the combined programmes reviewed had a median of 60-minute sessions, 2 sessions per week, over 16 weeks, in participants with a median age of 74.8 years.3
Evidence-backedThe full story · 2 chapters
01
What the evidence shows about memory
AI summary:Exercise trials and combined programmes report memory benefits, with high-intensity interval training ranking highest among exercise types.
Evidence-backed: In a Bayesian network meta-analysis of 110 randomized controlled trials involving 8,130 healthy older adults, high-intensity interval training ranked highest among exercise types for memory function, with a standardized mean difference of 0.58 (95% credible interval 0.21 to 0.96). Aerobic exercise ranked highest for global cognition (SMD 1.11; 95% CrI 0.58, 1.65) and language (SMD 0.31; 95% CrI 0.10, 0.53), while mind-body exercise ranked highest for executive function (SMD 0.54; 95% CrI 0.35, 0.73), processing speed (SMD 0.83; 95% CrI 0.45, 1.26), and attention (SMD 0.97; 95% CrI 0.40, 1.59). The authors conclude that the most effective exercise type varies by cognitive domain.1
Evidence-backed: A separate meta-analysis of 227 trials compared exercise alone with exercise plus an additional component, most commonly cognitive training or cognitively engaging activities. Exercise alone produced statistically significant improvements across all three cognitive domains compared with control. Exercise plus the additional component was significantly better than control only for memory, and was significantly better than exercise alone for executive function and processing speed but not for memory. The authors recommend promoting exercise training for cognitive outcomes and note that further research is needed to determine the added benefit of multidomain interventions.2
Evidence-backed: An umbrella review of non-pharmacological interventions pooled 84 unique primary trials with 5,818 participants, mostly testing combined cognitive-physical programmes. Median participant age was 74.8 years, session duration 60 minutes, frequency 2 sessions per week, and programme length 16 weeks. Memory was the domain most frequently reported as showing statistically significant benefit (57.1% of trials), followed by executive function (54.1%), global cognition (47.1%), and attention (42.9%). The authors caution that these proportions reflect the frequency of positive findings across trials rather than pooled effect estimates, and that certainty varied.3
Evidence-backed: A meta-analysis of 17 studies on resistance training found significant improvement in working memory compared with control (SMD 0.30; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.59; P = .04) and in cognitive flexibility (SMD -0.50; 95% CI -0.88 to -0.12; P = .009), with no significant effect on inhibitory control. When resistance training was compared with other exercise interventions, no significant between-group differences were found for working memory, inhibitory control, or cognitive flexibility. The authors describe the overall certainty of evidence as low and note high risk of bias across studies.4
Evidence-backed: A meta-analysis of traditional and technology-based exercise interventions found that all active interventions showed overall cognitive benefits compared with usual care or non-active controls. Virtual reality-based interventions were particularly effective for executive function, memory, and activities of daily living, while artificial intelligence-assisted exercise ranked favorably for attention. Mind-body exercise showed the highest probability of improving global cognitive performance. The authors suggest technology-assisted approaches may be more effective for specific cognitive functions while traditional approaches such as mind-body exercise may be more advantageous for overall cognitive performance.5
Evidence-backed: Cognitive training is described as a program of regular activities intended to maintain or improve cognitive abilities, typically targeting components of fluid intelligence such as executive function and working memory. It rests on the hypothesis that cognitive abilities can be maintained or improved by exercising the brain, analogous to physical fitness. Activities can include cardiovascular fitness training, online games, cognitive tasks in a training regimen, video games requiring visuospatial reasoning, and novel activities such as dance, art, and music. Research indicates aspects of brain structure remain plastic throughout life.6
Have you ever tried any form of cognitive training (e.g., brain-training games, memory exercises, or structured mental activities) to help maintain or improve your memory?
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02
How to read these findings
AI summary:These studies test exercise and combined programmes, not cognitive training alone, and certainty of evidence varies.
Interpretation: The studies above test exercise and combined programmes, not cognitive training in isolation. Where cognitive training appears, it is usually one component alongside physical training, so the memory results cannot be credited to cognitive training alone. The most direct signal for memory in this material comes from exercise trials — particularly high-intensity interval training — and from combined programmes where memory was the domain most often reported as improved.13
Interpretation: Certainty varies. The resistance training meta-analysis explicitly describes low certainty of evidence and high risk of bias. The umbrella review cautions that its proportions reflect frequency of positive findings rather than pooled effects. The exercise-plus meta-analysis found that adding a component helped memory relative to control but did not beat exercise alone for memory, which suggests the added value of the cognitive component for memory is not established.432
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- 1Domain-specific effects of exercise types on cognitive function in healthy older adults: A systematic review with pairwise and Bayesian network meta-analysis.Maturitas (Li et al.)Published Sep 3, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026
“Eligible studies included healthy older adults without cognitive impairment (≥60 years). Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 tool. Random-effects models were used to perform pairwise and Bayesian network meta-analyses.ResultsThe network meta-analysis included 110 randomized controlled trials involving 8130 participants. Mind-body exercise was the most effective exercise type for executive function (SMD 0.54; 95% CrI 0.35, 0.73), processing speed (SMD 0.83; 95% CrI 0.45, 1.26), and attention (SMD 0.97; 95% CrI 0.40, 1.59). Aerobic exercise was most effective in improving global cognition (SMD 1.11; 95% CrI 0.58, 1.65) and language function (SMD 0.31; 95% CrI 0.10, 0.53). For memory function, high-intensity interval training ranked highest (SMD 0.58; 95% CrI 0.21, 0.96).ConclusionsThe most effective exercise types varied across cognitive domains: aerobic exercise for global cognition and language function, mind-body exercise for executive function, processing speed, and attention, and high-intensity interval training for memory function. These findings may inform exercise-based strategies for cognitive health and healthy ageing.”
- 2Exercise-only interventions and exercise-based multidomain lifestyle interventions to promote cognitive function in older adults without dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.British journal of sports medicine (Hernández-Gamboa et al.)Published Sep 21, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026
“arched four databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL) between database inception and March 2026.Eligibility criteriaWe included randomised controlled trials that examined the effects of exercise training as a single domain or multidomain intervention on cognitive function of adults aged over 60 living without dementia.ResultsWe included 227 studies in the pairwise meta-analyses (Exercise-Only=178, Exercise-Plus=67) and 105 studies in the subset for the network meta-analysis (Exercise-Only=76, Exercise-Plus=36). Cognitive training and cognitively engaging activities were the most common Plus component in the included studies. Exercise-Only produced statistically significant improvements across all three cognitive domains compared with Control. Exercise-Plus was only significantly better than Control for memory. Exercise-Plus was also significantly better than Exercise-Only for executive functions and processing speed but not for memory.ConclusionWe recommend the promotion of exercise training to improve cognitive outcomes of older adults. Further research is needed to determine the added benefit of multidomain exercise interventions.Prospero registration numberCRD42022322199.”
- 3Non-pharmacological interventions for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: an umbrella review.BMC geriatrics (Tiga-Loza et al.)Published Aug 13, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026
“Across these reviews, 322 randomized controlled trials were reported. Of these, 143 met eligibility criteria, yielding 84 unique primary trials after overlap removal (CCA = 4.68%), comprising 5,818 participants. Cognitive-physical combined interventions predominated. Median participant age was 74.8 years (IQR 71.7-77.6), session duration 60 min (IQR 45-92.5), frequency 2 sessions/week (IQR 2-3), and program length 16 weeks (IQR 10-24). Memory (57.1%), executive function (54.1%), global cognition (47.1%), and attention (42.9%) were the domains most frequently reported as showing statistically significant benefits. These proportions reflect the frequency of positive findings across trials rather than pooled effect estimates and should be interpreted cautiously given the heterogeneity and methodological variability of the included evidence.ConclusionsMulticomponent non-pharmacological interventions may provide cognitive benefits, particularly for memory and executive function, though certainty varied and findings from lower-quality reviews should be interpreted cautiously.”
- 4Effects of Resistance Training on Executive Functions in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (Jorquera-Cáceres et al.)Published Aug 20, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026
“The meta-analysis, which ultimately included 17 studies, revealed that RT significantly improved working memory compared with control conditions (standardized mean difference, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.02-0.59; P = .04) and cognitive flexibility (standardized mean difference, -0.50; 95% CI, -0.88 to -0.12; P = .009), whereas no significant effects were observed for inhibitory control. However, when RT was compared with other exercise interventions, no significant between-group differences were identified for working memory, inhibitory control, or cognitive flexibility.Conclusions and implicationsRT may contribute to improvements in some domains of EF in older adults, particularly working memory and cognitive flexibility. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the heterogeneity of intervention protocols, the overall low certainty of evidence, and the high RoB across studies. Further high-quality trials with standardized training parameters are required to clarify the potential cognitive effects of RT and its comparative effectiveness relative to other exercise modalities.”
- 5Effects of Traditional and Technology-Based Exercise Interventions on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of Intelligence (Ren et al.)Published Aug 1, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026
“All active interventions demonstrated overall cognitive benefits compared with usual care or non-active control conditions. Mind-body exercise showed the highest probability of improving global cognitive performance. Virtual reality-based interventions were particularly effective for executive function, memory, and activities of daily living, while artificial intelligence-assisted exercise showed favorable rankings for attention outcomes. Mind-body exercise showed favorable effects on global cognition, whereas several technology-assisted interventions ranked highly for selected cognitive and functional outcomes.ConclusionsBoth traditional and non non-traditional exercise interventions improve cognitive function in older adults, although their effects differ across cognitive domains. Technology-assisted approaches appear more effective for enhancing specific cognitive functions, while traditional interventions such as mind-body exercise are more advantageous for preserving overall cognitive performance. These findings highlight the potential value of stage specific and combined intervention strategies for promoting cognitive health in aging populations.”
- 6Brain training (Wikipedia)WikipediaPublished Sep 29, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026
“Brain training (also known as a mental exercise or cognitive training) is a program of regular activities purported to maintain or improve one's cognitive abilities. The phrase "cognitive ability" usually refers to components of fluid intelligence such as executive function and working memory. Cognitive training reflects a hypothesis that cognitive abilities can be maintained or improved by exercising the brain, analogous to the way physical fitness is improved by exercising the body. Cognitive training activities can take place in numerous modalities such as cardiovascular fitness training, playing online games or completing cognitive tasks in alignment with a training regimen, playing video games that require visuospatial reasoning, and engaging in novel activities such as dance, art, and music. Numerous studies have indicated that aspects of brain structure remain "plastic" throughout life. Brain plasticity reflects the ability for the brain to change and grow in response to the environment.”
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