Physical Activity, Cognitive Health and Learning in Youth: A Narrative Umbrella Review

Although physical activity has been widely investigated for potential cognitive and academic benefits in children and adolescents, the evidence base remains mixed and characterized by substantial methodological variability. The present narrative umbrella review synthesizes and critically evaluates recent meta-analyses to identify patterns, strengths, and limitations in the existing literature. A comprehensive search identified systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in recent years that examined the effects of physical activity, exercise, and sports interventions on cognitive outcomes in healthy participants aged 5 to 17 years. In total, seven meta-analyses, covering 181 primary studies with approximately 42,000 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Across reviews, small positive effects of physical activity were reported for executive functions and attention, whereas findings for academic performance were inconsistent. Substantial variation in intervention duration, exercise modality, intensity, implementation context, and cognitive assessment procedures limited comparability and constrained interpretability. Overall, the synthesis indicates modest cognitive benefits of physical activity in youth, while underscoring the need for clearer operationalization of cognitive constructs, standardized intervention protocols, and transparent methodological reporting. From an applied perspective, integrating feasible, developmentally appropriate, and cognitively engaging physical activity into school and community settings may help support attention, executive functions, and broader cognitive health in young populations.