背　景運動對身體的好處已廣為證實，且運動在改善心智健康上也越顯其重要性。然而，運動對老人認知功能的成效為何，研究結果仍然不一致。目　的本研究旨在了解運動在改善老人認知功能的成效。方　法本文獻回顧採用敘事合成法，搜尋2006年到2009 MEDLINE、CINAHL、CochraneLibrary、Airiti Library（中文期刊論文）等電腦資料庫，使用的關鍵詞包括運動、身體活動、認知功能，研究對象為老人的研究，並運用CONSOR標準作為研究品質的評估。結　果共有12篇中至高品質的研究納入此次文獻回顧。本研究結果發現：每次60分鐘，每週3次，持續24週的運動計畫廣為多數研究採用；而12篇研究中有8篇顯示運動可以改善認知功能，其中研究對象有5篇是健康老人，3篇是認知受損老人；此外，單一項目運動對改善認知功能受損老人的成效較健康老人佳，而對健康老人而言，多面向運動則更具正向的效果。結　論／實務應用每次60分鐘、每週3次，持續6週的運動對老人認知功能即具有正向效益。而關於多面向運動對健康老人認知功能改善的成效，則需要採更嚴謹的研究方法及足夠樣本數來進一步證實。

Background: The well-documented physical benefits of exercise and the value of exercise for improving mental health have raised the profile and role of exercise in healthcare.However, studies evaluating the effects of exercise on neurocognitive function have produced equivocal results.
Purpose: This study was designed to examine the effectiveness of exercise on improving cognitive function in older people.Methods: Researchers used a narrative synthesis approach in this review and conducted a computer-based search inMEDLINE,CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Airiti Library (Chinese) from 2006 to 2009 using the search terms exercise, physical activity, and cognition. Research quality appraisal was rated using Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials criteria.Result: This review included 12 medium- to high-quality randomized controlled trials. Most studies examined used a 60-minute exercise regimen scheduled three times per week that was continued for 24 weeks. Of the 12 studies, 8 revealed
that exercise can improve cognitive function. Five studies focused
on healthy older people and three studied older people who had impaired cognition at baseline. Analysis of the studies showed simple, one-component exercise as better for older people with cognitive impairment and multicomponent exercise as better for those without such impairment.
Conclusions/Implications for Practice: This systematic review demonstrated that an exercise regimen of 6 weeks andat least 3 times per week for 60 minutes had a positive effect on cognition. Whether multicomponent exercise is significantly more effective in improving cognitive function, particularly in healthy older people, should be tested using larger trials with more rigorous methodology.