Zhang et al. 2026, Brain endurance training effects on physical and cognitive performance — systematic review

Systematic review of 13 controlled intervention studies (11 RCTs, 514 participants) across multiple sports including cycling, running, soccer, padel, and orienteering. Brain endurance training (BET) — pairing cognitively demanding tasks with physical exercise — consistently improved endurance outcomes (time to exhaustion, time-trial performance) without corresponding changes in VO2max or blood lactate, implicating central rather than peripheral mechanisms. Effects on strength and sprint performance were limited and inconsistent; cognitive benefits were most reliable for reaction time and resistance to performance decrements under mental fatigue. Methodological heterogeneity and moderate study quality warrant cautious interpretation. Moderate evidence.