Research

Mixed

Resistance training induces functional brain changes, particularly in the frontal lobe, which are associated with improvements in executive functions.

To support brain health and executive function, incorporate resistance training into your routine. This type of exercise has been shown to cause functional changes in the frontal lobe and reduce white matter atrophy, which are linked to better cognitive performance, especially in older adults.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Based on our analyses, resistance exercises and resistance training evoked substantial functional brain changes, especially in the frontal lobe, which were accompanied by improvements in executive functions.
Fabian Herold et al. · European Review of Aging and Physical Activity · 2019

Why this rating

Systematic review of 18 studies, but authors note findings should be interpreted cautiously due to small number of studies.

Source

Functional and/or structural brain changes in response to resistance exercises and resistance training lead to cognitive improvements – a systematic review

Fabian Herold et al. · European Review of Aging and Physical Activity · 2019

DOI 10.1186/s11556-019-0217-2

systematic_reviewCited 322×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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