A B S T R A C TCombined cognitive and physical exercise interventions have potential to elicit cognitive benefits in older adultswith mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. This meta-analysis aims to quantify the overall effect ofthese interventions on global cognitive functioning in older adults with MCI or dementia. Ten randomizedcontrolled trials that applied a combined cognitive-physical intervention with cognitive function as an outcomemeasure were included. For each study effect sizes were computed (i.e., post-intervention standardized meandifference (SMD) scores) and pooled, using a random-effects meta-analysis. The primary analysis showed asmall-to-medium positive effect of combined cognitive-physical interventions on global cognitive function inolder adults with MCI or dementia (SMD[95% confidence interval] =0.32[0.17;0.47], p < 0.00). A combinedintervention was equally beneficial in patients with dementia (SMD =0.36[0.12;0.60], p < 0.00) and MCI(SMD = 0.39[0.15;0.63], p < 0.05). In addition, the analysis showed a moderate-to-large positive effect aftercombined cognitive-physical interventions for activities of daily living (ADL) (SMD =0.65[0.09;1.21],p < 0.01)and a small-to-medium positive effect for mood (SMD =0.27[0.04;0.50], p < 0.01). These functionalbenefits emphasize the clinical relevance of combined cognitive and physical training strategies.