The Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training on Cognition and Blood Pressure in Older Adults With Hypertension and Subjective Cognitive Decline: Results From the Heart & Mind Study

Figures

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  Figure 1. Participants performing the square-stepping exercise.

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  Figure 2. Study CONSORT diagram to illustrate participant flow throughout the study.

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  Figure 3. Group average for exercise intensity achieved over the course of the exercise sessions as indexed by %HRmax (A) and RPE (B). For the HIIT group, data shown represent average exercise intensity at the 2-min mark within each 4-min bout of HIIT exercise. For MCT group, the data indicate average exercise intensity collected at 4 different timepoints within the each MCT session (i.e., at 5, 10, 20, and 25 min during the main MCT component, i.e., after 5 to 10 min of warm-up). %HRmax, percentage of maximum heart rate; RPE, rating of perceived exertion; HIIT, high-intensity interval training; MCT, moderate-intensity continuous training.

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  Figure 4. Baseline and follow-up means for global cognitive function (A, group mean and 95% CI) and estimated mean change from baseline to 6 months (B, estimated mean change and 95% CI). CI, confidence interval; HIIT, high-intensity interval training; MCT, moderate-intensity continuous training.

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  Figure 5. Baseline and follow-up means for domain-specific cognitive function (A,C,E,G, show group mean and 95% CI) and estimated mean change from baseline to 6 months (B,D,F,H show estimated mean change and 95% CI). CI, confidence interval; HIIT, high-intensity interval training; MCT, moderate-intensity continuous training.

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  Figure 6. Baseline and follow-up means for systolic blood pressure readings (A,C, group mean and 95% CI) and estimated mean change from baseline to 6 months (B,D, estimated mean change and 95% CI). (A,B) Display changes for the entire sample, while (C,D) display changes within subgroups stratified by baseline systolic blood pressure readings. #, significant changes over time at adjusted significance threshold (p ≤ 0.005); See Supplementary Table 2 for further details. ‡, greater changes compared to HIIT Low BP [difference between groups (CI): −12.14 mmHg (−19.98 to −4.30), p = 0.003] and MCT Low BP [−14.28 mmHg (−22.22 to −6.35), p = 0.001] at adjusted significance threshold (p ≤ 0.005). CI, confidence interval; HIIT, high-intensity interval training; MCT, moderate-intensity continuous training; High BP, high systolic blood pressure at baseline; Low BP, low systolic blood pressure at baseline.

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  Figure 7. Baseline and follow-up means for time to exhaustion during exercise stress tests (bar plots, group mean and 95% CI) and estimated mean change from baseline to 6 months (scatterplots, estimated mean change and 95% CI). (A,B) Display changes for the entire sample, while (C,D) display changes stratified by males and females. *, significant changes over time; #, significant subgroup changes over time at adjusted significance threshold (p ≤ 0.005), with improvements in females within the MCT group [estimated mean change (95% CI): 1.61 min (0.9 to 2.33), p = 0.00003] and males within the HIIT group [1.47 min, (0.87 to 2.07), p = 0.000006]. See Supplementary Table 3 for further details. HIIT, high-intensity interval training; MCT, moderate-intensity continuous training.