Assessing Physical Activity & Exercise impact in Dementia

Background
Dementia is a growing public health concern globally, with profound personal, societal, and economic consequences. While pharmacological treatments remain limited in effectiveness, non-pharmacological strategies such as physical activity and exercise are gaining recognition for their potential to prevent, delay, or alleviate cognitive and functional decline. Evidence suggests that regular physical activity may improve cognitive function, reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms, and enhance quality of life in individuals with dementia. Recent studies have also reported an increased incidence of memory loss and cognitive decline following the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially due to reduced social interaction, increased sedentary behavior, and long-term neurological effects of the virus. However, the mechanisms underlying these benefits remain poorly understood, and there is a need for more rigorous research to evaluate the type, intensity, frequency, and duration of exercise interventions that are most effective. Furthermore, heterogeneity in study populations, outcome measures, and intervention protocols has made it challenging to translate findings into clinical practice.

Goal
This Research Topic aims to synthesize and promote the latest research investigating the effects of physical activity and exercise on dementia-related outcomes. Our goal is to bring together multidisciplinary contributions—from neuroscience, psychology, gerontology, public health, and rehabilitation sciences—that deepen our understanding of how physical activity can be used as a therapeutic or preventive tool for people living with or at risk of dementia. We also seek to explore biological, psychological, and behavioral mechanisms through which exercise may exert its effects, in order to inform more tailored and effective interventions.

Scope
We invite submissions that explore the role of physical activity and exercise across the full spectrum of dementia types, including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. We are particularly interested in multidisciplinary research that investigates how different forms of physical activity may influence the onset, progression, or symptomatology of these conditions.
Specific themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Effects of aerobic, resistance, balance, flexibility, or multicomponent exercise programs on cognitive, physical, emotional, and functional outcomes in different types of dementia
• Comparative studies evaluating the impact of exercise interventions across various dementia subtypes
• Underlying mechanisms of benefit (e.g., neurogenesis, neurovascular coupling, inflammation reduction, neuroplasticity) in each dementia type
• Dose-response relationships and the effectiveness of tailored exercise protocols by dementia stage and type
• Technology-supported interventions (e.g., virtual reality, digital coaching, wearable monitoring tools) designed for individuals with cognitive impairment
• Implementation and feasibility studies of physical activity programs in diverse settings (e.g., home, community, care facilities) and among caregivers
• Prevention-focused research exploring physical activity as a modifiable risk factor for different forms of dementia
• Equity and accessibility in delivering exercise-based interventions across various populations and healthcare systems
We welcome contributions in the form of Original Research, Systematic Reviews (including narrative, scoping, meta-analytical, or umbrella review approaches), Brief Research Reports, Protocols, Case Reports, and Perspective articles. Submissions should clearly focus on structured or habitual physical activity—including exercise interventions, lifestyle movement patterns, or rehabilitation programs—and their measurable effects on individuals living with, or at risk for, any type of dementia.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: exercise, physical activity, dementia, Alzheimer's, Non-pharmacological strategies, prevention, exercise intervention, cognitive function, neuroplasticity, quality of life

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.