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. 2024 Feb;46(1):1371-1384.
doi: 10.1007/s11357-023-00893-4. Epub 2023 Aug 15.

Effects of a brief HIIT intervention on cognitive performance in older women

Amani M Norling  1   2   3 , Adam Gerstenecker  4   5 , Mark S Bolding  5   6 , Lawrence Ver Hoef  4 , Thomas Buford  7 , Randall Walden  8 , Hongyu An  9 , Chunwei Ying  9 , Terina Myers  4   5 , Benjamin S Jones  4 , Victor Del Bene  4   5 , Ronald M Lazar  4   5
Affiliations

Effects of a brief HIIT intervention on cognitive performance in older women

Amani M Norling et al. Geroscience. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) mitigates age-related decline in cognition and brain volume. Little is known, however, about the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cognitive aging and the relationship between HIIT, cognition, hippocampal subfield volumes, and cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF). Older sedentary women participated in an 8-week HIIT intervention. We conducted cognitive assessments, fitness assessments (VO2max), MRI scans: asymmetric spin echo oxygen extraction fraction (ASE-OEF), high-resolution multiple image co-registration and averaging (HR-MICRA) imaging, and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography before and after the intervention. VO2max increased from baseline (M = 19.36, SD = 2.84) to follow-up (M = 23.25, SD = 3.61), Z = - 2.93, p < .001, r = 0.63. Composite cognitive (Z = - 2.05, p = 0.041), language (Z = - 2.19, p = 0.028), and visuospatial memory (Z = - 2.22, p = 0.026), z-scores increased significantly. Hippocampal subfield volumes CA1 and CA3 dentate gyrus and subiculum decreased non-significantly (all p > 0.05); whereas a significant decrease in CA2 (Z = - 2.045, p = 0.041, r = 0.436) from baseline (M = 29.51; SD = 24.50) to follow-up (M = 24.50; SD = 13.38) was observed. Right hemisphere gray matter was correlated with language z-scores (p = 0.025; r = 0.679). The subiculum was correlated with attention (p = 0.047; r = 0.618) and verbal memory (p = 0.020; r = 0.700). The OEF and CBF were unchanged at follow-up (all p > .05). Although we observed cognitive improvements following 8 weeks of our HIIT intervention, they were not explained by hippocampal, OEF, or CBF changes.

Keywords: Brain; Cognition; Exercise; Hippocampal subfields; Oxygen extraction; VO2max.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
VO2max baseline and follow-up. Asterisks (***) indicate sig. < 0.001
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cognitive domains, baseline, and follow-up domain z-scores. Asterisk (*) indicates sig. < 0.05. Bars indicate SE
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Cognition and hippocampal subfields. A As change scores in attention and B verbal memory composites z-scores increased, change score in the subiculum increased
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Language and OEF. As change scores in the language composite z-scores increased, change score in OEF increased in right hemisphere gray matter
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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