What does this research mean for the field?

One year of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise training alters cerebral vasomotor reactivity in patients with mild cognitive impairment, and these cerebrovascular changes correlate with improved memory and executive function. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

May 20, 2021Open Access

One-year aerobic exercise altered cerebral vasomotor reactivity in mild cognitive impairment

Structured PICO

Does 1-year moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise training alter cerebral vasomotor reactivity and improve cognitive performance in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment?

Population

37 adults (aged 55-80 years) with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mean age ~64.7 years, 54% male, from a US center. Key inclusion: amnestic MCI diagnosis (Clinical Dementia Rating 0.5, MMSE 24-30). Key exclusions: major neurological, vascular, or psychiatric disorders, uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, BMI ≥35 kg/m2, current/history of smoking, or physically active lifestyle.

Intervention

Moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise training (AET) program (brisk walking) for 1 year. Progressed to 4-5 sessions/week for 30-40 minutes per session, including 2 high-intensity sessions at 85%-90% of maximal heart rate.

Comparator

Stretching-and-toning (SAT) program for 1 year, matched for frequency and duration (active control). Participants kept heart rate below 50% of maximal heart rate.

Outcome

Changes in cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVMR) during hypocapnia and hypercapnia at 1-year follow-up, measured via transcranial Doppler of the middle cerebral artery.surrogate

One year of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise training alters cerebral vasomotor reactivity in patients with mild cognitive impairment, and these physiological changes correlate with improved memory and executive function.

Abstract

One-year moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise training (AET) improved cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇o 2peak ), increased hypocapnic cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVMR), whereas it decreased hypercapnic CVMR when compared with stretching and toning in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Furthermore, changes in hypercapnic CVMR with AET were correlated with improved memory and executive function. These findings indicate that AET has an impact on cerebrovascular function which may benefit cognitive performance in older adults who have high risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

KI fragen

Bookmark

View Full Paper