Objective:

To synthesize evidence on swimming’s effects on cognitive functioning in older adults and report on health outcomes and participation drivers, facilitators, and barriers.

Approach:

• Systematic Review Methodology: Conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, searching four databases for studies on swimming, cognitive health, and dementia.

Key Findings:

• Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria, published between 2007 and 2019 across 11 countries.
• Six studies reported improvement in cognitive functioning associated with swimming.
• Physiological improvements, such as cardiorespiratory fitness and strength, were consistently noted.
• Drivers for participation included cognitive wellbeing, pleasure, and clinician recommendations.
• Facilitators and barriers were mapped using the Socioecological Model.

Interpretation:

Swimming is a non-pharmacological intervention that shows potential benefits for cognitive functioning and other health outcomes in older adults.

Limitations:

• Most studies were cross-sectional and of moderate-high quality.
• Need for more rigorous research designs to establish robust evidence on benefits across cognitive impairment severity levels.

Conclusion:

More clearly defined research designs are needed to generate robust evidence on the differential benefits of swimming for older adults with varying levels of cognitive impairment.