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Review
. 2021 Mar 16;22(6):3003.
doi: 10.3390/ijms22063003.

Is High-Intensity Interval Training Suitable to Promote Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Functions after Stroke?

Nicolas Hugues  1   2 , Christophe Pellegrino  1 , Claudio Rivera  1 , Eric Berton  2 , Caroline Pin-Barre  2 , Jérôme Laurin  1
Affiliations
Review

Is High-Intensity Interval Training Suitable to Promote Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Functions after Stroke?

Nicolas Hugues et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Stroke-induced cognitive impairments affect the long-term quality of life. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is now considered a promising strategy to enhance cognitive functions. This review is designed to examine the role of HIIT in promoting neuroplasticity processes and/or cognitive functions after stroke. The various methodological limitations related to the clinical relevance of studies on the exercise recommendations in individuals with stroke are first discussed. Then, the relevance of HIIT in improving neurotrophic factors expression, neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity is debated in both stroke and healthy individuals (humans and rodents). Moreover, HIIT may have a preventive role on stroke severity, as found in rodents. The potential role of HIIT in stroke rehabilitation is reinforced by findings showing its powerful neurogenic effect that might potentiate cognitive benefits induced by cognitive tasks. In addition, the clinical role of neuroplasticity observed in each hemisphere needs to be clarified by coupling more frequently to cellular/molecular measurements and behavioral testing.

Keywords: angiogenesis; cerebral ischemia; cognition; endurance exercise; neurogenesis; neurotrophic factors; rat and human model; stroke rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the influence of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on neuroplasticity and learning/memory performance in healthy humans and individuals with stroke. HIIT enhances circulating biomarker expression of neuroplasticity processes in individuals with stroke. The HIIT effects on cognitive functions remain to be defined despite some authors finding benefits in cognitive performance in healthy individuals.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overview of the influence of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and cognitive training on neuroplasticity and learning/memory performance in rodents with cerebral ischemia. HIIT enhances neurotrophin expression, neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. However, the effects on cognition remain unclear but seem to be very modest. It is unknown if the combination between HIIT and cognitive training (enriched environment) can increase benefits of an enriched environment on cognitive functions. Grey arrows mean effects of each type of training on cognitive functions (in the beige circle at the bottom). “?” means that it remains unknown (no evidence).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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