From the Guidelines
Physical activities that combine cognitive engagement and executive function, such as dance, martial arts, team sports, and complex movement patterns like obstacle courses, are highly recommended due to their ability to improve cognitive domains like executive function, inhibition, and attention, as evidenced by a recent systematic review of randomized controlled trials 1. These activities require participants to make quick decisions, adapt to changing situations, and coordinate movements while following rules or patterns.
- Dance, for example, demands memorization of choreography, spatial awareness, and timing.
- Martial arts incorporate strategy, reaction time, and sequenced movements.
- Team sports involve strategic thinking, anticipation, and cooperation with teammates. The cognitive demands of planning, inhibiting inappropriate responses, and shifting attention enhance executive function skills that transfer to everyday tasks. Regular participation in these cognitively demanding physical activities has been shown to improve attention, working memory, and problem-solving abilities across all age groups, making them excellent choices for maintaining brain health throughout life. While other studies suggest the benefits of aerobic exercise, resistance training, and mind-body exercise like Tai Chi and Qigong for cognitive outcomes 1, and define various types of physical activity, including multicomponent physical activity that combines aerobic, muscle strengthening, and balance training 1, the most recent and highest quality evidence supports the recommendation of cognitively engaging physical activities like dance and martial arts 1.
From the Research
Physical Activity and Cognitive Engagement
- Cognitively engaging physical activity has been suggested to have superior effects on cognition compared to physical activity with low cognitive demands 2.
- Team games, which combine physical exertion and high cognitive engagement, have been shown to improve executive functions in children, particularly shifting performance 3.
- Muscle-strengthening activities have also been associated with executive cognitive function among older adults, highlighting the importance of promoting both aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening activities 4.
Executive Function and Physical Activity
- Cognitively engaging physical activity interventions, such as basketball and floorball, have been found to enhance overall executive functions, updating, and shifting in children aged 4 to 12 5.
- The combination of aerobic exercise and mindfulness training may also improve cognitive function in older adults, although further research is needed to determine the efficacy of this approach 6.
Key Findings
- Cognitively engaging physical activity is associated with improved executive functions in children and older adults 3, 4, 5.
- The combination of physical activity and cognitive engagement may be an effective approach to improving cognitive function, particularly executive functions 2, 3, 5.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between physical activity, cognitive engagement, and executive function 2, 6.