Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (10): 2594-2607.doi: 10.12307/2026.626

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Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on cognitive function in patients with neurodegenerative diseases: a meta-analysis

Tang Zhuolin1, Yin Mingyue2, Bai Mingyang3, Zheng Huakun1, 4, Yan Henghao1, 5, Xu Kai2, Liu Qian1   

  1. Tang Zhuolin1, Yin Mingyue2, Bai Mingyang3, Zheng Huakun1, 4, Yan Henghao1, 5, Xu Kai2, Liu Qian1  
    1School of Physical Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan 625014, Sichuan Province, China; 2School of Athletic Performance, 4School of Sports and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; 3School of Sports Human Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100091, China; 5Institute of Sports Science, Institute of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
  • Received:2025-04-09 Accepted:2025-06-08 Online:2026-04-08 Published:2025-08-30
  • Contact: Liu Qian, MS, Professor, Master’s supervisor, School of Physical Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan 625014, Sichuan Province, China
  • About author:Tang Zhuolin, School of Physical Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan 625014, Sichuan Province, China Yin Mingyue, MS candidate, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
  • Supported by:
    Sichuan Innovation Training Program for Undergraduates, No. S202410626075 (to TZL)

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Cognitive impairment associated with neurodegenerative diseases seriously affects the quality of life of patients. High-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training can improve cognitive function by inducing the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and enhancing synaptic plasticity, but the advantages and disadvantages of the two are inconclusive. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the difference between high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training in improving cognitive function in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
METHODS: The Web of Science core collection, Medline (EBSCO Host), PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched to include randomized controlled trials on high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training to improve cognitive function in neurodegenerative diseases patients. The search time was from the establishment of each database to July 25, 2024. The PEDro scale was used for quality evaluation, and R Studio (version 4.4.1) was used for meta-analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 27 randomized controlled trials were included, with a total of 1 613 subjects (592 in the high-intensity interval training group; 405 cases in the moderate-intensity continuous training group; 616 cases in the control group). Compared with the control group (no or low-intensity exercise), both high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training could significantly improve the cognitive function of patients with neurodegenerative diseases [Hedges’g=0.15, 95% confidence interval (0.02, 0.29), P=0.02; Hedges’g=0.74, 95% confidence interval (0.01, 1.47), P=0.04]. Subgroup analyses showed that different types of neurodegenerative diseases and different cognitive function assessment scales could significantly affect the interventional effect of moderate-intensity continuous training, and patients with Alzheimer’s disease could achieve greater cognitive improvement than those with Parkinson’s disease (Hedges’g = 2.24 vs. 0.15, P=0.02), The Mini-Mental State Examination could better capture the cognitive changes before and after intervention than the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (Hedges’g=4.21 vs. 0.25, P < 0.01). In addition, age has a significant impact on the effect of moderate-intensity continuous training intervention (P=0.08), and patients ≥ 65 years can achieve greater cognitive benefits than those under 65 years of age (Hedges’g=0.99 vs. 0.22). There was no significant difference in the improvement of cognitive function between high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training [Hedges’g=-0.02, 95% confidence interval (-0.30, 0.26), P = 0.88].
CONCLUSION: Both high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training can significantly improve the cognitive function of neurodegenerative diseases patients and are equally effective, but people of different ages may have different optimal training types: patients < 65 years old may have greater cognitive benefits through high-intensity interval training intervention, while patients ≥ 65 years old may have better cognitive function through moderate-intensity continuous training. It is worth noting that the interventional effect of moderate-intensity continuous training is subjected to multiple adjustments of disease type, evaluation tool and age, suggesting that a differentiated exercise prescription and evaluation system should be formulated according to the characteristics of patients in clinical practice.

Key words: neurodegenerative diseases, exercise intervention, high-intensity interval training, moderate-intensity continuous training, cognitive function, meta-analysis

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