Key result
A single session of acute resistance training significantly improved visuospatial processing in healthy older adults, with high-intensity training increasing scores from 61.6 to 69.7 (p≤0.001).
Why the study?
There is scarce evidence on the acute effect of resistance training on cognitive performance in older adults.
Does an acute session of resistance training improve cognitive performance in healthy older adults?
RCT (n=45)
Randomly allocated
No
Does an acute session of resistance training improve cognitive performance in healthy older adults?
An acute session of resistance training, regardless of intensity, improves visuospatial processing but not other cognitive domains in healthy older adults.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Acute resistance training improves visuospatial processing in healthy older adults; extends evidence on domain-specific acute exercise effects.
Different types of exercise interventions have shown to improve cognitive performance; however, there is scarce evidence on the acute effect of resistance training (RT) on cognitions in older adults. The purpose of this study is to determine the acute effect of RT on cognitive performance in healthy older adults. 45 adults (Mean age = 65.3 ± 3.7 yr.) were randomly allocated to one of three groups: high-intensity RT (G1), low-intensity RT (G2), or inactive control (G3). Participants completed cognitive tests assessing processing speed, visuospatial processing, executive function, and cognitive control, working memory and immediate memory. The RT protocol for G1 and G2 consisted of six exercises. A 3x2 ANCOVA was performed with education as a covariate. Significant improvements were found on visuospatial processing in G1 (Pre = 61.6 ± 2.1 vs. Post = 69.7 ± 2.4; 95%CI = 4.8, 11.4; p ≤ 0.001) and G2 (Pre = 62.4 ± 2.2 vs. Post = 67.0 ± 2.5; 95%CI = 1.2, 8.1; p = 0.009). Other tested cognitive abilities were unchanged by acute exercise or rest. Acute RT enhanced or maintained cognitive performance in older adults. It was possible to successfully perform 1RM tests with older adults. Additional evidence is needed to determine effective protocols to improve cognition in older adulthood.
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Hernández-Gambo et al. (2022) conducted an RCT in Healthy older adults (n=45). Resistance training vs. Inactive control was evaluated on Visuospatial processing (Stroop Color Naming) (95% CI 4.8, 11.4, p=≤0.001). A single session of acute resistance training significantly improved visuospatial processing in healthy older adults, with high-intensity training increasing scores from 61.6 to 69.7 (p≤0.001).
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