There is increasing evidence that exercise can improve executive function and academic performance in children and adolescents. But does exercise affect the intelligence of children and adolescents?
Javier S. Morales, PhD, and colleagues from 4 institutions in Spain and the University of Pittsburgh looked at this question in their article entitled, “Exercise Interventions and Intelligence in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-analysis,” which is being early released in Pediatrics this month (10.1542/peds.2023-064771).
The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials that enrolled a total of 3203 children aged 5–14 years.
While there is much more in this article, the main finding is that exercise interventions improved intelligence by an average of 4 IQ points. There were benefits for children regardless of age, baseline IQ, and duration of the exercise intervention.
So what is happening here? In an invited commentary (10.1542/peds.2024-067398), Michele LaBotz, MD, from Tufts University and the University of New England notes a few potential reasons that exercise may positively impact intelligence:
- Physical activity promotes release of neurotrophic factors that may positively impact the developing brain, resulting in neural efficiency and functional connectivity.
- Physical activity improves attention and behavior.
Dr. LaBotz also notes that 30–60 minutes of exercise 3–5 days each week was the most common regimen in the studies included in the meta-analysis. But the meta-analysis still included studies with varied exercise regimens.
This is yet another reason for us to recommend regular exercise for our patients, starting from a young age. The exact type of exercise may not matter. The key seems to be to pick a form of exercise that the child can enjoy and can keep doing on a regular basis.
