Physical activity and cognitive performance in early childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Key Points
Growing evidence shows that physical activity interventions can improve cognitive function in young populations, but evidence on the effects during early childhood (= 6 years) remains inconclusive.
In the present meta-analysis, which included 24 studies (N = 3483 children aged 3-6 years), physical activity interventions had positive effects on all analysed cognitive outcomes, including attention, inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility and vocabulary.
Our findings suggest that physical activity interventions may improve cognitive performance in early childhood.
© Copyright 2024 Sports Medicine. Springer. All rights reserved.
| Subjects: | |
|---|---|
| Notations: | training science junior sports |
| Published in: | Sports Medicine |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2024
|
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02020-5 |
| Volume: | 54 |
| Issue: | 7 |
| Pages: | 1835-1850 |
| Document types: | article |
| Level: | advanced |