Improvements in cognition and associations with measures of aerobic fitness and muscular power following structured exercise.

OBJECTIVES: Cognition, along with aerobic and muscular fitness, declines with age. Although research has shown that resistance and aerobic exercise may improve cognition, no consensus exists supporting the use of one approach over the other. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of steady-state, moderate-intensity treadmill training (TM) and high-velocity circuit resistance training (HVCRT) on cognition, and to examine its relationships to aerobic fitness and neuromuscular power. METHODS: Thirty older adults were randomly assigned to one of three groups: HVCRT, TM, or control. Exercise groups attended training 3 days/wk for 12 weeks, following a 2 week adaptation period. The NIH Cognitive Toolbox was used to assess specific components of cognition and provided an overall fluid composite score (FCS). The walking response and inhibition test (WRIT) was specifically used to assess executive function (EF) and provided an accuracy (ACC), reaction time (RT) and global score (GS). Aerobic power (AP) and maximal neuromuscular power (MP) were measured pre- and post-intervention. Relationships between variables using baseline and mean change scores were assessed. RESULTS: Significant increases were seen from baseline in ACC (MD = 14.0, SE = 4.3, p = .01, d = 1.49), GS (MD = 25.6, SE = 8.0, p = .01, d = 1.16), and AP (MD = 1.4, SE = 0.6, p = .046, d = 0.31) for HVCRT. RT showed a trend toward a significant decrease (MD = -0.03, SE = 0.016, p = .068, d = 0.32) for HVCRT. No significant within-group differences were detected for TM or CONT. Significant correlations were seen at baseline between AP and FCS, as well as other cognitive domains; but none were detected among change scores. Although no significant correlation was evident between MP and FCS or GS, there was a trend toward higher MP values being associated with higher FCS and GS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the use of HVCRT over TM for improving cognition in older persons, although the precise mechanisms that underlie this association remain unclear.

Effects of high-velocity circuit resistance and treadmill training on cardiometabolic risk, blood markers, and quality of life in older adults.

The presence of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) confers an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality and is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although the effects of exercise on biomarkers, HRQoL, and future risk have been studied, no study has measured the effects on all three components. The present study compared the effects of steady-state, moderate-intensity treadmill training (TM) and high-velocity circuit resistance training (HVCRT) on biological markers, HRQoL, and overall CVD risk in adults with CMS and CVD risk factors. Thirty participants (22 females, 8 males) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: HVCRT, TM, or control. Participants in the exercise groups attended training 3 days/week for a total of 12 weeks. Of the 30 participants who began the study, 24 (19 females, 5 males) were included in the final analysis. Primary outcome measures included CMS criteria, hemodynamic measures, Framingham Risk Score (FRS), and HRQoL. All variables were measured pre- and post-intervention. CMS z score significantly decreased for HVCRT (p = 0.03), while there were no significant changes for TM or control. FRS significantly decreased for HVCRT compared with TM (p = 0.03) and control (p = 0.03). Significant decreases in systolic (p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressures (p < 0.01) for HVCRT accompanied significant increases from baseline in stroke volume (p = 0.03) and end-diastolic volume (p < 0.01). Systemic vascular resistance significantly decreased (p = 0.05) for HVCRT compared with control. Emotional well-being significantly improved following HVCRT and TM compared with control (p = 0.04; p = 0.03). HVCRT represents a novel training modality that improved factors in each of the 3 components assessed.