Aerobic exercise improves cognition and cerebrovascular regulation in older adults

doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000009478

Clinical Trial

. 2020 May 26;94(21):e2245-e2257.

doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009478. Epub 2020 May 13.

Aerobic exercise improves cognition and cerebrovascular regulation in older adults

Affiliations

¹ From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., G.A.E., M.J.P.), Hotchkiss Brain Institute (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., R.S.L., M.D.H., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Division of Geriatric Medicine (D.B.H.), Department of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., M.D.H., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta (T.J.A., M.J.P.), O'Brien Institute for Public Health (V.G., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Department of Cardiac Sciences (T.J.A.), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, and Department of Community Health Sciences (M.D.H.), Cumming School of Medicine, Faculty of Kinesiology (M.J.P.), and Department of Psychology (R.S.L.), University of Calgary; Psychology Service (R.S.L.), Alberta Health Service, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary; Department of Psychiatry (G.A.E.), Faculty of Medicine, and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (G.A.E.), Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory (M.H.D.), Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
² From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., G.A.E., M.J.P.), Hotchkiss Brain Institute (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., R.S.L., M.D.H., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Division of Geriatric Medicine (D.B.H.), Department of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., M.D.H., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta (T.J.A., M.J.P.), O'Brien Institute for Public Health (V.G., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Department of Cardiac Sciences (T.J.A.), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, and Department of Community Health Sciences (M.D.H.), Cumming School of Medicine, Faculty of Kinesiology (M.J.P.), and Department of Psychology (R.S.L.), University of Calgary; Psychology Service (R.S.L.), Alberta Health Service, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary; Department of Psychiatry (G.A.E.), Faculty of Medicine, and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (G.A.E.), Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory (M.H.D.), Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. poulin@ucalgary.ca.

PMID: 32404355
PMCID: PMC7357295
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009478

Clinical Trial

Aerobic exercise improves cognition and cerebrovascular regulation in older adults

Veronica Guadagni et al. Neurology. 2020.

. 2020 May 26;94(21):e2245-e2257.

doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009478. Epub 2020 May 13.

Affiliations

¹ From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., G.A.E., M.J.P.), Hotchkiss Brain Institute (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., R.S.L., M.D.H., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Division of Geriatric Medicine (D.B.H.), Department of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., M.D.H., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta (T.J.A., M.J.P.), O'Brien Institute for Public Health (V.G., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Department of Cardiac Sciences (T.J.A.), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, and Department of Community Health Sciences (M.D.H.), Cumming School of Medicine, Faculty of Kinesiology (M.J.P.), and Department of Psychology (R.S.L.), University of Calgary; Psychology Service (R.S.L.), Alberta Health Service, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary; Department of Psychiatry (G.A.E.), Faculty of Medicine, and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (G.A.E.), Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory (M.H.D.), Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
² From the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., G.A.E., M.J.P.), Hotchkiss Brain Institute (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., R.S.L., M.D.H., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Division of Geriatric Medicine (D.B.H.), Department of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (V.G., L.L.D., A.V.T., M.D.H., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta (T.J.A., M.J.P.), O'Brien Institute for Public Health (V.G., D.B.H., M.J.P.), Department of Cardiac Sciences (T.J.A.), Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, and Department of Community Health Sciences (M.D.H.), Cumming School of Medicine, Faculty of Kinesiology (M.J.P.), and Department of Psychology (R.S.L.), University of Calgary; Psychology Service (R.S.L.), Alberta Health Service, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary; Department of Psychiatry (G.A.E.), Faculty of Medicine, and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (G.A.E.), Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory (M.H.D.), Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. poulin@ucalgary.ca.

PMID: 32404355
PMCID: PMC7357295
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009478

Erratum in

Aerobic exercise improves cognition and cerebrovascular regulation in older adults.
[No authors listed] [No authors listed] Neurology. 2020 Nov 10;95(19):890. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010637. Epub 2020 Aug 11. Neurology. 2020. PMID: 32788246 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Objective: To test the hypothesis that aerobic exercise is associated with improvements in cognition and cerebrovascular regulation, we enrolled 206 healthy low-active middle-aged and older adults (mean ± SD age 65.9 ± 6.4 years) in a supervised 6-month aerobic exercise intervention and assessed them before and after the intervention.

Methods: The study is a quasi-experimental single group pre/postintervention study. Neuropsychological tests were used to assess cognition before and after the intervention. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used to measure cerebral blood flow velocity. Cerebrovascular regulation was assessed at rest, during euoxic hypercapnia, and in response to submaximal exercise. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between changes in cognition and changes in cerebrovascular function.

Results: The intervention was associated with improvements in some cognitive domains, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cerebrovascular regulation. Changes in executive functions were negatively associated with changes in cerebrovascular resistance index (CVRi) during submaximal exercise (β = -0.205, p = 0.013), while fluency improvements were positively associated with changes in CVRi during hypercapnia (β = 0.106, p = 0.03).

Conclusion: The 6-month aerobic exercise intervention was associated with improvements in some cognitive domains and cerebrovascular regulation. Secondary analyses showed a novel association between changes in cognition and changes in cerebrovascular regulation during euoxic hypercapnia and in response to submaximal exercise.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

**Figure 1. Flowchart of Brain in Motion study participants**

**Figure 2. Boxplots of changes before and after 6 months of aerobic exercise intervention in executive functions/concept formation and fluency, V̇o₂max, and resting baseline CBF outcomes**
CBF = cerebral blood flow; CVC = cerebrovascular conductance; CVR = cerebrovascular resistance. ****p < 0.0001, ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

Cited by

Exercise rescues cognitive impairment through inhibiting the fibrinogen neuroinflammative pathway in diabetes.
Lu D, Qu C, Fang M, Zhang J. Lu D, et al. Metab Brain Dis. 2024 Nov 13;40(1):2. doi: 10.1007/s11011-024-01455-z. Metab Brain Dis. 2024. PMID: 39535634
A 30-day kendama program for community-dwelling elderly: Effects on participants' physical and cognitive functions and the practicality of the program.
Watanabe T, Hirowatari H, Tokura Y, Takeda K, Hanaoka H. Watanabe T, et al. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci. 2024 Jul 30;15:34-41. doi: 10.11336/jjcrs.15.34. eCollection 2024. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci. 2024. PMID: 39473971 Free PMC article.
Computerized cognitive games versus cognitive exergame: the comparison of motor and cognitive functions enhancement in the elderly.
Ghasemian M, Tajpour M, Mollanuri P, Zamanpour E, Moradi H. Ghasemian M, et al. BMC Psychol. 2024 Oct 11;12(1):549. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02064-2. BMC Psychol. 2024. PMID: 39394166 Free PMC article.
Resistance training boosts lactate transporters and synaptic proteins in insulin-resistance mice.
Bian X, Li M, Lou S. Bian X, et al. Heliyon. 2024 Jul 14;10(14):e34425. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34425. eCollection 2024 Jul 30. Heliyon. 2024. PMID: 39082040 Free PMC article.
The interactions between energy homeostasis and neurovascular plasticity.
Chen B, de Launoit E, Meseguer D, Garcia Caceres C, Eichmann A, Renier N, Schneeberger M. Chen B, et al. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2024 Dec;20(12):749-759. doi: 10.1038/s41574-024-01021-8. Epub 2024 Jul 25. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2024. PMID: 39054359 Review.

See all "Cited by" articles

References

1. Fontana L. Interventions to promote cardiometabolic health and slow cardiovascular ageing. Nat Rev Cardiol 2018;15:566–577. - PubMed
1. Ungvari Z, Tarantini S, Kiss T, et al. . Endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis impairment in the ageing vasculature. Nat Rev Cardiol 2018;15:555–565. - PMC - PubMed
1. Reuter-Lorenz PA, Park DC. How does it STAC up? Revisiting the scaffolding theory of aging and cognition. Neuropsychol Rev 2014;24:355–370. - PMC - PubMed
1. Tyndall AV, Clark CM, Anderson TJ, et al. . Protective effects of exercise on cognition and brain health in older adults. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2018;46:215–223. - PubMed
1. van Praag H. Exercise and the brain: something to chew on. Trends Neurosci 2009;32:283–290. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

Actions
Actions

MeSH terms

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

Grants and funding

MOP 142470/CIHR/Canada

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
Medical
- MedlinePlus Consumer Health Information
- MedlinePlus Health Information

[1] Fontana L. Interventions to promote cardiometabolic health and slow cardiovascular ageing. Nat Rev Cardiol 2018;15:566–577. - PubMed

[2] Fontana L. Interventions to promote cardiometabolic health and slow cardiovascular ageing. Nat Rev Cardiol 2018;15:566–577. - PubMed

[3] Ungvari Z, Tarantini S, Kiss T, et al. . Endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis impairment in the ageing vasculature. Nat Rev Cardiol 2018;15:555–565. - PMC - PubMed

[4] Ungvari Z, Tarantini S, Kiss T, et al. . Endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis impairment in the ageing vasculature. Nat Rev Cardiol 2018;15:555–565. - PMC - PubMed

[5] Reuter-Lorenz PA, Park DC. How does it STAC up? Revisiting the scaffolding theory of aging and cognition. Neuropsychol Rev 2014;24:355–370. - PMC - PubMed

[6] Reuter-Lorenz PA, Park DC. How does it STAC up? Revisiting the scaffolding theory of aging and cognition. Neuropsychol Rev 2014;24:355–370. - PMC - PubMed

[7] Tyndall AV, Clark CM, Anderson TJ, et al. . Protective effects of exercise on cognition and brain health in older adults. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2018;46:215–223. - PubMed

[8] Tyndall AV, Clark CM, Anderson TJ, et al. . Protective effects of exercise on cognition and brain health in older adults. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2018;46:215–223. - PubMed

[9] van Praag H. Exercise and the brain: something to chew on. Trends Neurosci 2009;32:283–290. - PMC - PubMed

[10] van Praag H. Exercise and the brain: something to chew on. Trends Neurosci 2009;32:283–290. - PMC - PubMed

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

Aerobic exercise improves cognition and cerebrovascular regulation in older adults

Affiliations

Aerobic exercise improves cognition and cerebrovascular regulation in older adults

Authors

Affiliations

Erratum in

Abstract

Figures

Similar articles

Cited by

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Erratum in

Abstract

Figures

Similar articles

Cited by

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Related information

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical