Executive Functions of Sedentary Elderly May Benefit from Walking: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective The goal of the present meta-analysis was to address studies that examined the relationship between walking as one of the most prevalent types of leisure-time activity and executive function being a higher-order cognitive function essential for independent functioning. Methods The following data sources were used: English-language publications in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cinahl, and Cochrane; the last search took place in January 2012. From these data sources, only randomized controlled trials including older people with (N = 3) and without (N = 5) cognitive impairment were selected. Results Walking has been shown to improve set-shifting and inhibition in sedentary older persons without cognitive impairment (d = 0.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.16–0.55; z = 3.56; p