The effect of Brain Gym on cognitive function in older people: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Silvia Varela; Carlos Ayán; Iraia Bidaurrazaga-Letona; José Carlos Diz; Iratxe Duñabeitia

doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.07.015

The effect of Brain Gym on cognitive function in older people: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Geriatr Nurs. 2023 Sep-Oct:53:175-180. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.07.015. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

Authors

Silvia Varela¹, Carlos Ayán², Iraia Bidaurrazaga-Letona³, José Carlos Diz⁴, Iratxe Duñabeitia⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Special Didactics, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Well-Move Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain.
² Department of Special Didactics, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Well-Move Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain; RIDEAIDI, Research Network on People with Disability: Exercise, Physical Activity and Inclusive Sport, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Spain.
³ RIDEAIDI, Research Network on People with Disability: Exercise, Physical Activity and Inclusive Sport, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Spain; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.
⁴ Well-Move Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain; Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
⁵ RIDEAIDI, Research Network on People with Disability: Exercise, Physical Activity and Inclusive Sport, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Spain; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain. Electronic address: iratxe.dunabeitia@ehu.eus.

PMID: 37540913
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.07.015

Abstract

This review aimed to systematically evaluate and meta-analyze the available data on the effects of Brain Gym (BG) on cognitive function in older people. Six electronic databases were searched systematically using: "Brain Gym" AND "elderly, "Brain Gym" AND "older people". The PEDro and MINORS scales were used to evaluate methodological quality. For the meta-analysis, inverse variance or generic inverse variance was used and heterogeneity was assessed with the Chi2 test and I2 test. Ten research studies with a high to low quality. Significant changes intra- and inter-group were observed for neurocognitive outcomes in the BG groups. Findings from the metaanalysis indicated changes in the BG groups, on cognitive function by means of the Mini-Mental State Examination, were not greater than those reported in the control/comparison groups. BG will not lead to improvements in cognitive function in people with and without cognitive impairment, supported by low to high evidence.

Keywords: Brain gym; Cognitive function; Elderly; Exercise; Systematic review.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Brain*
Cognition
Cognitive Dysfunction*
Exercise
Humans