Aim: Acute, moderate intensity aerobic exercise might improve cognition in multiple sclerosis (MS), but it is unknown if increases in core body temperature (Ctemp) that negates those effects in thermosensitive persons with MS.
Materials & methods: Fourteen fully ambulatory, thermosensitive persons with MS completed 20-min bouts of vigorous intensity treadmill walking exercise and seated quiet rest in a randomized, counterbalanced order. Ctemp was measured throughout each experimental condition. Inhibitory control (i.e., an executive function) was measured immediately prior to and following each condition.
Results: Ctemp was elevated (~0.6 °C) with vigorous exercise versus quiet rest (p < 0.05). There further were pre-to-post improvements in inhibitory control for vigorous exercise versus quiet rest (ηp(2) = 0.29).
Conclusion: Exercise-related increases in Ctemp do not nullify the potential acute exercise benefits on inhibitory control in MS.
Keywords: body temperature; cognition; exercise; heat; multiple sclerosis; thermosensitivity.