Overview

• The EXERT trial found that both low and moderate-high intensity exercise stabilized cognitive function over 12 months in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).
• Participants in both exercise groups experienced less brain volume loss, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, compared to those receiving usual care.
• The study included nearly 300 sedentary older adults with aMCI, a condition with a 16% annual progression rate to Alzheimer's dementia.
• Supervised exercise sessions, conducted 3–4 times per week over a year, were delivered via a scalable YMCA-based community model.
• Researchers highlight exercise as a safe, accessible, and effective strategy to slow cognitive decline and promote brain health in at-risk populations.