Exercise Training and Functional Connectivity Changes in Mild Cognitive Empairment and Healthy Elders

Background: Effective interventions are needed to improve brain function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus is a hub of the default mode network (DMN) and is preferentially vulnerable to disruption of functional connectivity in MCI and AD. Objective: We investigated whether 12 weeks of aerobic exercise could enhance functional connectivity of the PCC/precuneus in MCI and healthy elders. Methods: Sixteen MCI and 16 healthy elders (age range = 60–88) engaged in a supervised 12-week walking exercise intervention. Functional MRI was acquired at rest; the PCC/precuneus was used as a seed for correlated brain activity maps. Results: A linear mixed effects model revealed a significant interaction in the right parietal lobe: the MCI group showed increased connectivity while the healthy elders showed decreased connectivity. In addition, both groups showed increased connectivity with the left postcentral gyrus. Comparing pre to post intervention changes within each group, the MCI group showed increased connectivity in 10 regions spanning frontal, parietal, temporal and insular lobes, and the cerebellum. Healthy elders did not demonstrate any significant connectivity changes. Conclusion: The observed results show increased functional connectivity of the PCC/precuneus in individuals with MCI after 12 weeks of moderate intensity walking exercise training. The protective effects of exercise training on cognition may be realized through the enhancement of neural recruitment mechanisms, which may possibly increase cognitive reserve. Whether these effects of exercise training may delay further cognitive decline in patients diagnosed with MCI remains to be demonstrated

Frequently endorsed cognitive and physical activities among community-dwelling older adults

Background Despite the established benefits of cognitive and physical activity, a paucity of research examines the specific activities older adults favor, particularly those meeting the nationally recommended minimum duration of \u3e 30 minutes per session. Material/Methods 260 non-demented, community-dwelling participants aged 70 and above self-reported the duration of their participation in 26 cognitive and physical activities during a typical week. Overall activity engagement was investigated by sex and educational level. Results The most endorsed physical activities were walking, stretching/yoga and gardening, while the most endorsed cognitive activities were reading magazines/newspapers, reading books, and doing crosswords. Walking (p = .048), swimming (p = .008), reading magazines/ newspapers (p=.011), writing (p=.001), and attending lectures (p = .007) were more common among those with \u3e 12 years of education, while reading books (p = .039) and sewing/knitting (p = .040) were more common among those with ≤ 12 years of education. Doing crossword puzzles (p = .003), sewing/knitting (p = .001), and dancing (p = .015) were more common among females, while weight training (p = .009) and fishing (p = .003) were more common among males. Conclusions Overall, results revealed several statistically significant activity engagement differences by sex and education. Findings are discussed in relation to enhancing older adults’ participation in activities that may improve their overall functioning

BioSteel High Performance Sports Drink Improves Exercise Performance Following a Simulated Hockey Game

INTRODUCTION: BioSteel High Performance Sports Drink (BioSteel) is one of the most popular sports supplements consumed by professional and amateur athletes. BioSteel Inc® claims that consumption of BioSteel before and during exercise will result in “enhanced energy while delaying the onset of muscular and mental fatigue”. PURPOSE: Assess the efficacy of BioSteel supplementation on anaerobic and aerobic exercise performance as well as sport-specific cognition throughout exercise. METHODS: Eleven exercise-trained men completed a simulated hockey game on a cycle ergometer under two experimental conditions: BioSteel and isoenergetic placebo. Measures of exercise performance and cognition were assessed before, throughout and after the game. RESULTS: When compared to placebo, BioSteel supplementation significantly improved mean power output and decreased time to complete a simulated overtime period as well as significantly enhanced selective attention following the third period. CONCLUSION: BioSteel consumption before and throughout a simulated hockey game improves exercise performance and potentially augments cognition

Cognitive remediation in schizophrenia-now it is really getting personal

Cognitive problems are consistently documented in people with schizophrenia. They negatively influence functioning and contribute to the long term consequences of the illness. Cognitive remediation (CR) is a psychological intervention developed to target these cognitive difficulties. There is evidence that CR is beneficial but there is still a limited understanding of how the putative active therapy ingredients contribute to changes in the brain and translate into improved functioning. This paper reviews recent research focused on topics that, in our view, will drive future developments such as the identification of translational mechanisms, the personalisation of CR, the best implementation methods and potential augmenting strategies to improve treatment effectiveness

The effect of differing intensities of acute cycling on preadolescent academic achievement

The present study examined the effects of differing intensity levels of acute exercise on preadolescent academic ability. In a repeated measures design, 18 preadolescent participants (mean age±S.D.=9.8±1.4 years: 9 male and 9 female) completed the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT 4) following 20 minutes of rest, 20-minutes on a cycling ergometer at 50% maximal heart rate reserve (HRR), and 20-minutes on a cycling ergometer at 75% HRR on separate days. Exercise was found to improve spelling irrespective of intensity level. Moderate levels of exercise improved reading although the effect of high levels of intensity is less clear. Both intensity levels impaired arithmetic, whilst sentence comprehension was unaffected. These findings further support the past research that indicates acute bouts of exercise can selectively improve cognition in preadolescent children. However, the present study finds no support for the notion that increasing the intensity of exercise accentuates benefits. © 2013 © 2013 European College of Sport Science

Physiological Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Cognitive Function in the Aging Population

Neurocognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, is considered to be the world’s fastest growing disease (Alzheimer\u27s Association, 2011). Due to this escalation, research focused on determining causes, accelerants, impeding factors, and preventative strategies has become a focus of interest within the field. One of the principal points of study is the role that exercise plays in the maintenance or fortification against neurocognitive decline. Though there is a robust library of research focused on the effects of land-based exercise on cognitive function, currently there is no research that discusses the impact of aquatic-based exercise on these parameters. This paper will examine the effects of land-based exercise on cognitive function while bridging these results to the aquatic environment

Experimental Effects of Acute High-Intensity Resistance Exercise on Episodic Memory Function: Consideration for Post-Exercise Recovery Period.

BACKGROUND: The present experiments evaluated the effects of acute high-intensity resistance exercise on episodic memory. METHODS: Two experiments were conducted. For Experiment 1, participants (N = 40; Mage = 21.0 years) were randomized into one of two groups, including an experimental exercise group and a control group (seated for 20 min). The experimental group engaged in an acute bout of resistance exercises (circuit style exercises) for 15 minutes, followed by a 5-min recovery period. Memory function was subsequently assessed using a multiple trial (immediate and delay), word-list episodic memory task (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, RAVLT), and then followed by a comprehensive, computerized assessment of episodic memory (Treasure Hunt task, THT). The THT involved a spatio-temporal assessment of what, where, and when components of episodic memory. Experiment 2 evaluated if altering the recovery period would influence the potential negative effects of high-intensity resistance exercise on episodic memory function. For Experiment 2, participants (N = 51) were randomized into the same acute resistance exercise protocol but either with a 10-min recovery period, 20-min recovery period, or a control group. RESULTS: For Experiment 1, for RAVLT, the exercise group performed worse (Fgroup × time = 3.7, p = .001, η 2p = .09). Across nearly all THT outcomes, the exercise group had worse spatio-temporal memory than the control group. These results suggest that high-intensity resistance exercise (with a 5-min recovery) may have a detrimental effect on episodic memory function. For Experiment 2, for RAVLT, the exercise with 10-min recovery group performed better (Fgroup × time = 3.1, p = .04, η 2p = .11). Unlike Experiment 1, exercise did not impair spatio-temporal memory, with the 20-min exercise recovery group having the best "where" component of episodic memory. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the results from these two experiments suggest that acute high-intensity resistance exercise may impair episodic memory when a short exercise recovery period (e.g., 5-min) is employed, but with a longer recovery period (10+ min), acute high-intensity resistance exercise may, potentially, enhance episodic memory

Effect of aerobic exercise on amyloid accumulation in preclinical Alzheimer’s: A 1-year randomized controlled trial

Background Our goal was to investigate the role of physical exercise to protect brain health as we age, including the potential to mitigate Alzheimer’s-related pathology. We assessed the effect of 52 weeks of a supervised aerobic exercise program on amyloid accumulation, cognitive performance, and brain volume in cognitively normal older adults with elevated and sub-threshold levels of cerebral amyloid as measured by amyloid PET imaging. Methods and findings This 52-week randomized controlled trial compared the effects of 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise vs. education control intervention. A total of 117 underactive older adults (mean age 72.9 [7.7]) without evidence of cognitive impairment, with elevated (n = 79) or subthreshold (n = 38) levels of cerebral amyloid were randomized, and 110 participants completed the study. Exercise was conducted with supervision and monitoring by trained exercise specialists. We conducted 18F-AV45 PET imaging of cerebral amyloid and anatomical MRI for whole brain and hippocampal volume at baseline and Week 52 follow-up to index brain health. Neuropsychological tests were conducted at baseline, Week 26, and Week 52 to assess executive function, verbal memory, and visuospatial cognitive domains. Cardiorespiratory fitness testing was performed at baseline and Week 52 to assess response to exercise. The aerobic exercise group significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness (11% vs. 1% in the control group) but there were no differences in change measures of amyloid, brain volume, or cognitive performance compared to control. Conclusions Aerobic exercise was not associated with reduced amyloid accumulation in cognitively normal older adults with cerebral amyloid. In spite of strong systemic cardiorespiratory effects of the intervention, the observed lack of cognitive or brain structure benefits suggests brain benefits of exercise reported in other studies are likely to be related to non-amyloid effects

Endorphins, Endocannabinoids and Runners’ High

Modern science takes at face value the fact that exercise is beneficial for man’s health. In recent years, medical health professionals have begun to harness exercise as a treatment for a broader range of maladies. Since various studies found increased exercise to correlate with higher levels of endorphins, most believed that the endorphins were directly responsible for what the vernacular dubbed “Runner’s High.” Scientists have sought to either augment or wholly disprove the endorphin hypothesis with further studies. Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, is an affective condition affecting a significant portion of the general population. Aerobic exercise is increasingly being revealed to be an encouraging treatment for all types of depression and anxiety. The HPA Axis allows one to comfortably exercise without experiencing the extremely stressful symptoms that characterize psychological stress, such as depression, anxiety, fear, etc. Runners’ High is the “…happiness, elation…inner harmony, boundless energy, and…reduction in pain sensation” that ensues following prolonged aerobic activity. Endorphins are the body’s naturally occurring opiates. The Neurogenesis Hypothesis states that “a decrease in the synthesis of new neurons in the adult hippocampus might be linked to major depressive disorder.” Further research implicates BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophin Factor) in exercise-induced neurogenesis. The thought was that beta endorphins are what stimulate increased neurogenesis, in turn causing a decrease in MDD. β-endorphins are large molecules that are too bulky to pass through the BBB and therefore cannot be the cause any changes to occur within the brain. Researchers and scientists have thus turned their attention to endogenous endocannabinoids as the true source of analgesia, sedation, anxiolysis and reduced depression found in endurance exercisers. Chief ligand anandamide (AEA) engenders elevated levels of BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) during exercise and return-to-baseline levels post-exercise. Endocannabinoids modulate nociception by affecting the Periaqueductal Gray system (PAG). Endogenous cannabinoids and exogenous cannabinoids (marijuana) act in similar fashions, leading to the addictive qualities of exercise. Compelling evidence has ascertained that endogenous endocannabinoids are the underlying cause of the many positive effects of aerobic activity

A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Obesity in Functional Cognition (Part III): Risk Factors and Studying Challenges

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors, devising efficacious therapies, and tackling the methodological obstacles inherent in investigating the cognitive consequences of obesity are imperative undertakings in both clinical and research contexts. The complex interaction between metabolic, inflammatory, and lifestyle factors highlights the necessity of adopting a holistic strategy to address cognitive impairments in patients with obesity. The resolution of methodological obstacles, including ethical concerns and the identification of suitable evaluation instruments, is crucial for the progression of our understanding in this domain and the enhancement of cognitive well-being among individuals impacted by obesity