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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Mar;52(3):561-568.
doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002183.

Cognitive Impairment during High-Intensity Exercise: Influence of Cerebral Blood Flow

Takaaki Komiyama, Yukiya Tanoue  1 , Mizuki Sudo  2 , Joseph T Costello  3 , Yoshinari Uehara  4 , Yasuki Higaki  4 , Soichi Ando  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Cognitive Impairment during High-Intensity Exercise: Influence of Cerebral Blood Flow

Takaaki Komiyama et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: Cognitive performance appears to be impaired during high-intensity exercise, and this occurs concurrently with a reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, it is unclear whether cognitive impairment during high-intensity exercise is associated with reduced CBF. We tested the hypothesis that a reduction in CBF is responsible for impaired cognitive performance during high-intensity exercise.

Methods: Using a randomized crossover design 17 healthy males performed spatial delayed response and Go/No-Go tasks in three conditions (exercise [EX], exercise+CO2 [EX+CO2], and a nonexercising control [CON]). In the EX and EX+CO2, they performed cognitive tasks at rest and during 8 min of moderate and high-intensity exercise. Exercise intensity corresponded to ~50% (moderate) and ~80% (high) of peak oxygen uptake. In the EX+CO2, the participants inspired hypercapnic gas (2% CO2) during high-intensity exercise. In the CON, they performed the cognitive tasks without exercise.

Results: Middle cerebral artery mean velocity increased during high-intensity exercise in the EX+CO2 relative to the EX (69.4 [10.6] cm·s, vs 57.2 [7.7] cm·s, P < 0.001). Accuracy of the cognitive tasks was impaired during high-intensity exercise in the EX (84.1% [13.3%], P < 0.05) and the EX+ CO2 (85.7 [11.6%], P < 0.05) relative to rest (EX: 95.1% [5.3%], EX+CO2: 95.1 [5.3%]). However, no differences between the EX and the EX+CO2 were observed (P > 0.10). These results demonstrate that restored CBF did not prevent cognitive impairment during high-intensity exercise.

Conclusions: We conclude that a reduction in CBF is not responsible for impaired cognitive performance during high-intensity exercise.

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