Is Preventive Adapted Physical Activity a Tool for Screening in Patients With MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) and a Tool to Reduce Ad (Alzheimer’s Disease) Impairments Long-term? A Systematic Review.

Background Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage between normal aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and constitutes a critical target for preventive interventions. Growing evidence suggests that adapted physical activity may influence cognitive trajectories; however, its potential role as both a screening tool and a long-term preventive strategy remains insufficiently clarified. Objective This systematic review aimed to evaluate whether preventive adapted physical activity can (1) support early detection of cognitive decline in individuals with MCI and (2) reduce or delay cognitive and functional impairments associated with Alzheimer’s Disease over the long term. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and SPORTDiscus databases. Studies involving adults with MCI or AD who participated in structured physical activity interventions were included. Eligible study designs comprised randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and cohort studies. Primary outcomes were cognitive performance measures; secondary outcomes included functional status, activities of daily living, quality of life, and progression to dementia. Risk of bias was assessed using validated methodological tools. Results The included studies demonstrated that adapted physical activity interventions—particularly multicomponent and combined physical-cognitive programs—were associated with modest but significant improvements in global cognition and executive function, as well as stabilization of functional outcomes in some cohorts. Evidence also suggested that individuals with MCI engaging in regular physical activity showed lower rates of conversion to dementia. However, substantial heterogeneity in intervention protocols, outcome measures, and follow-up duration limited quantitative synthesis and generalizability. Conclusion Preventive adapted physical activity appears to be a promising non-pharmacological strategy for both mitigating cognitive decline and potentially aiding early identification of functional vulnerability in individuals with MCI and early AD. Given its low cost, scalability, and feasibility in community and clinical settings, adapted physical activity may represent an effective public health approach to reducing the burden of dementia. Future studies should prioritize standardized intervention frameworks, long-term follow-up, and implementation research to inform clinical guidelines and population-level prevention strategies.