Effects of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous training on neuroinflammatory and amyloidogenic pathways in an STZ-induced AD-like model

CONTEXT: Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ1-42) accumulation, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline. OBJECTIVE: To compare high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) effects on hippocampal Aβ1-42, β-secretase 1 (BACE1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and memory in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced AD-like rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 35 male Wistar rats (n = 7/group): healthy control, Sham, AD control, AD + HIIT, AD + MICT. STZ was injected intracerebroventricularly. After eight weeks of training, memory (passive avoidance) and hippocampal markers (ELISA) were assessed. RESULTS: Versus AD control, HIIT and MICT improved memory and lowered Aβ1-42 and NF-κB (all p ≤ 0.01). HIIT also lowered BACE1 (p < 0.001); MICT did not (p = 0.163). HIIT surpassed MICT only in memory (p = 0.006). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Both exercise modes attenuated amyloidogenic and neuroinflammatory markers and improved memory; HIIT had a behavioral advantage.