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. 2023 Jul 17:17:e20220082.
doi: 10.1590/1980-5764-DN-2022-0082. eCollection 2023.

Effect of aerobic exercise training on EEG: event-related potential and neuropsychological functions in depressed elderly with mild cognitive impairment

Zainab Khan  1 , Ashi Saif  1 , Neera Chaudhry  2 , Adila Parveen  1
Affiliations

Effect of aerobic exercise training on EEG: event-related potential and neuropsychological functions in depressed elderly with mild cognitive impairment

Zainab Khan et al. Dement Neuropsychol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Increased depressive severity has been linked to neurocognitive impairment. Aerobic exercise (AE) is an efficient technique for improving cognitive function. However, studies indicating the importance of AE to neurophysiological and neuropsychological functions in the depressed elderly using event-related potentials (ERPs) are scarce.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the potential benefits of AE on neurophysiological and neuropsychological functions.

Methods: A total of 30 depressed older adults (AE group: n=15; control group (CG): n=14) were recruited based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The AE group was subjected to an 8-week-period AE program (3 times/week for 30 min per session) at moderate intensity, determined using heart rate maximum (HRmax). The training intensity was set at 50% HRmax and increased by 5% in subsequent weeks. Pre- and post-training measures for neurophysiological function were tested using ERP-P300 (amplitude-μV and latency-ms) and also for neuropsychological functions using the trail making test (TMT), mini mental status examination (MMSE), and everyday cognition questionnaire (ECog).

Results: In the experimental group, statistically significant improvements were observed when analyzed for all 3 (group-by-time interaction effect, main effect of time, and main effect of group), in both neurophysiological functions (*p<0.001) and neuropsychological functions (*p<0.001), except for ECog scores, where the results were insignificant for the main effect of a group. Correlation analysis demonstrated no association between neurophysiological and neuropsychological functions (*p>0.05).

Conclusion: Findings showed that 8 weeks of AE training may be a promising approach to improve cognitive functions in depressed older adults. However, considering relatively small number of patients, the question arises for effectiveness in other populations.

O aumento da gravidade de quadros de depressão tem sido associado a comprometimento neurocognitivo. O exercício aeróbico (EA) é uma técnica eficiente para melhorar a função cognitiva. No entanto, estudos sugerindo a importância de EA para funções neurofisiológicas e neuropsicológicas usando potenciais relacionados a eventos (PRE) em idosos deprimidos são escassos.

Objetivo: Identificar os potenciais benefícios do EA nas funções neurofisiológicas e neuropsicológicas.

Métodos: Vinte e nove idosos deprimidos (grupo EA: n=15; grupo controle: GC: n=14) foram recrutados segundo critérios de inclusão e exclusão. O grupo EA foi submetido a um programa de EA de oito semanas (3 vezes/semana em sessões de 30 minutos cada) em intensidade moderada, determinada pela frequência cardíaca máxima (FCmáx). A intensidade do treinamento foi fixada em 50% da FCmax e aumentada em 5% nas semanas subsequentes. As medidas pré- e pós-treinamento para a função neurofisiológica foram testadas pelo ERP-P300 (amplitude-μV e latência-ms) e também para as funções neuropsicológicas usando o Trail Making Test (TMT), o Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) e o Everyday Cognition Questionnaire (ECog).

Resultados: No grupo experimental, melhorias estatisticamente significativas foram observadas quando analisadas para todos os 3 (efeito de interação grupo por tempo, efeito principal do tempo e efeito principal do grupo), em ambas as funções neurofisiológicas (*p<0,001) e funções neuropsicológicas (*p<0,001), exceto para escores ECog, onde os resultados foram insignificantes para o efeito principal de um grupo. A análise de correlação não demonstrou nenhuma associação entre funções neurofisiológicas e neuropsicológicas (*p>0,05).

Conclusão: Os achados mostraram que 8 semanas de treinamento de EA podem ser uma abordagem promissora para melhorar as funções cognitivas em idosos deprimidos. No entanto, considerando um número relativamente pequeno de pacientes, surge a questão da eficácia em outra população.

Keywords: Aged; Cognitive Dysfunction; Depression; Evoked Potentials; Exercise.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flowchart showing the study design.
Figure 2
Figure 2. (A) Following 8 weeks of aerobic-exercise training, the results indicate an improvement in cognitive function as there is decrease in trend in P300-latency (latency). (B) Following 8 weeks of aerobic-exercise training, the results indicate an improvement in cognitive function as there is an increase in trend in P300-amplitude (amplitude). (C) Following 8 weeks of aerobic-exercise training, the results indicate an improvement in cognitive function as there is decrease in trend in trail making test part-A (TMTA). (D) Following 8 weeks of aerobic-exercise training, the results indicate an improvement in cognitive function as there is a decrease in trend in trail making test part-B (TMTB). (E) Following 8 weeks of aerobic-exercise training, the results indicate an improvement in cognitive function as there is increase in trend in mini mental status examination (MMSE) score. (F) Following 8 weeks of aerobic-exercise training, the results indicate an improvement in cognitive function as there is decrease in trend in everyday cognition questionnaire (ECog) scores.
Figure 3
Figure 3. (A) A scatterplot representing the result of Pearson correlation coefficients showing no association between post-P300-amplitude (P300-Amp2) and post-trail making test part-A (TMTA2) (r=-0.411, p=0.209). (B) A scatterplot representing the result of Pearson correlation coefficients showing no association between post-P300-amplitude (P300-Amp2) and post-trail making test part-B (TMTB2) (r=0.162, p=0.634). (C) A scatterplot representing the result of Pearson correlation coefficients showing no association between post-P300-amplitude (P300-Amp2) and post-mini mental status examination score (MMSE2) (r=0.020, p=0.953). (D) A scatterplot representing the result of Pearson correlation coefficients showing no association between post-P300-amplitude (P300-Amp2) and post-everyday cognition questionnaire score (ECog2) (r=-0.161, p=0.63).
Figure 4
Figure 4. (A) A scatterplot representing the result of Pearson correlation coefficients showing no association between post-P300-latency (P300-Lat 2) and post-trail making test part-A (TMTA2) (r=0.366, p=0.268). (B) A scatterplot representing the result of Pearson correlation coefficients showing no association between post-P300-latency (P300-Lat 2) and post-trail making test part-B (TMTB2) (r=-0.058, p=0.865). (C) A scatterplot representing the result of Pearson correlation coefficients showing no association between post-P300-latency (P300-Lat 2) and post-mini mental status examination score (MMSE2) (r=-0.290, p=0.386). (D) A scatterplot representing the result of Pearson correlation coefficients showing no association between post-P300 latency (P300-Lat 2) and post-everyday cognition questionnaire score (ECog2) (r=0.061, p=0.857).
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