The benefits of regular aerobic exercise training on cerebrovascular function and cognition in older adults

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Regular lifelong aerobic exercise training in older adults was associated with significantly higher cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia (80.3% vs 35.1%) compared to sedentary controls.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Healthy older adults (n=26). Intervention: Regular aerobic exercise training vs. Sedentary, untrained controls. Primary outcome: Cerebrovascular responsiveness (CVR) to hypercapnia (%) (p=<0.001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Regular lifelong aerobic exercise training in older adults is associated with significantly higher cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia (80.3% vs 35.1%) compared to sedentary controls. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

Compare cerebrovascular and cognitive function between aerobically trained older adults and sedentary controls, while evaluating the influence of cardiometabolic covariates.

Edward Bliss; Samia M. Biki; Rachel Wong; Peter R.C. Howe; Dean E. Mills

doi:10.1007/s00421-023-05154-y

February 19, 2023European Journal of Applied PhysiologyOpen Access

The benefits of regular aerobic exercise training on cerebrovascular function and cognition in older adults

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Key result

Lifelong aerobic exercise is linked to ~129% greater cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia versus sedentary controls.

P<0.001
n=26

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Why the study?

The study was conducted to compare cerebrovascular and cognitive function between aerobic exercise-trained older adults and sedentary controls, determine whether other measures accounted for differences, and examine associations between these functions.

Does regular aerobic exercise training improve cerebrovascular function and cognition in older adults?

Key Points

Compare cerebrovascular and cognitive function between aerobically trained older adults and sedentary controls, while evaluating the influence of cardiometabolic covariates.
Matched cross-sectional comparison between 13 aerobic exercise-trained older adults and 13 age-, height-, and sex-matched sedentary controls (N=26).
Assessed cerebrovascular responsiveness (CVR) to hypercapnia and cognitive stimuli via transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, alongside cognitive testing, physical fitness, and blood measurements.
Trained adults had higher CVR to hypercapnia (80.3 ± 7.2% vs 35.1 ± 6.7%, P < 0.001), CVR to cognitive stimuli (30.1 ± 2.9% vs 17.8 ± 1.4%, P = 0.001), and total composite cognitive scores (117 ± 2 vs 98 ± 4, P < 0.001).
Group differences lost statistical significance following adjustment for covariates, but composite cognitive scores positively correlated with CVR to hypercapnia (r = 0.474, P = 0.014) and CVR to cognitive stimuli (r = 0.685, P < 0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=26)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does regular aerobic exercise training improve cerebrovascular function and cognition in older adults?

P

Population

26 older adults (aged 50-80 years) from South East Queensland, Australia, without diagnosed cognitive impairment or significant history of cardiovascular, neurological, cerebrovascular, kidney, liver disease or cancer.

I

Intervention

Regular participation in at least 150 min of moderate-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise training per week consistently for at least 2 years.

C

Comparator

Age-, height- and sex-matched sedentary, untrained controls (physically inactive for at least the previous 2 years).

O

Outcome

Cerebrovascular responsiveness (CVR) to hypercapnia, CVR to cognitive stimuli, and total composite cognitive score.surrogate

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 80.3% vs 35.1%

p-value: p=<0.001

Regular lifelong aerobic exercise training is associated with improved cerebrovascular responsiveness and cognitive function in older adults, though these benefits may be mediated by cardiometabolic factors.

Limitations

Cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine causality.
Small sample size (n=26) due to early termination of recruitment and testing caused by COVID-19 restrictions.
Differences in cerebrovascular and cognitive function between groups did not remain statistically significant after adjusting for covariates such as education and cardiometabolic factors.
Recruitment and testing were terminated earlier than anticipated due to the impacts of COVID-19 and the restrictions placed on gathering, research and travel.

Implication

May support cerebrovascular benefits of lifelong aerobic exercise in older adults; leaves open causality and cognitive effects pending prospective trials.

Abstract

We compared the differences in cerebrovascular and cognitive function between 13 aerobic exercise trained, older adults and 13 age-, height- and sex-matched sedentary, untrained controls. We determined whether other measures accounted for differences in cerebrovascular and cognitive function between these groups and examined the associations between these functions. Participants undertook anthropometric, mood, cardiovascular, exercise performance, strength, cerebrovascular, and cognitive measurements, and a blood collection. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography determined cerebrovascular responsiveness (CVR) to hypercapnia and cognitive stimuli. The trained group had a higher CVR to hypercapnia (80.3 ± 7.2 vs 35.1 ± 6.7%, P < 0.001), CVR to cognitive stimuli (30.1 ± 2.9 vs 17.8 ± 1.4%, P = 0.001) and total composite cognitive score (117 ± 2 vs 98 ± 4, P < 0.001) than the controls. These parameters no longer remained statistically different between the groups following adjustments for covariates. There were positive correlations between the total composite cognitive score and CVR to hypercapnia (r = 0.474, P = 0.014) and CVR to cognitive stimuli (r = 0.685, P < 0.001). We observed a relationship between cerebrovascular and cognitive function in older adults and an interaction between regular lifelong aerobic exercise training and cardiometabolic factors that may directly influence these functions.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Bliss et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy older adults (n=26). Regular aerobic exercise training vs. Sedentary, untrained controls was evaluated on Cerebrovascular responsiveness (CVR) to hypercapnia (%) (p=<0.001). Regular lifelong aerobic exercise training in older adults was associated with significantly higher cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia (80.3% vs 35.1%) compared to sedentary controls.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a165c6c0f5dd46f564c504f https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05154-y

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The benefits of regular aerobic exercise training on cerebrovascular function and cognition in older adults

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

The benefits of regular aerobic exercise training on cerebrovascular function and cognition in older adults

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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