<p>Characteristics of the included studies.</p>

<div> <p>Objective</p><p>This study aimed to quantify domain-specific dose-response relationships between mind-body exercise and cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to derive actionable dosing recommendation.</p> <p>Methods</p><p>Eight major electronic databases were systematically searched up to September 15, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mind-body exercise intervention in individuals aged ≥60 years with MCI that reported at least one cognitive domain outcome were included.

Hedges’g effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models, and dose-response relationships were examined using restricted cubic spline regression.</p> <p>Results</p><p>Twenty-seven RCTs (2034 participants) were included. Moderate-certainty evidence supported improvements in global cognition (Hedges’ g: 0.67, 95% CI: [0.49, 0.78]) and processing speed (0.45 [0.3, 0.6]). Global cognition exhibited a U-shaped weekly dose-response, with 240 min/week as the relative nadir that still yielded a significant pooled effect (0.37; [0.19, 0.55]); longer intervention durations significantly amplified this overall response (β = 0.012, p < 0.05), and achieving significant benefit at this dose required ≥11 weeks intervention.