Comparison Between the Effects of Continuous and Intermittent Light-Intensity Aerobic Dance Exercise on Mood and Executive Functions in Older Adults

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that one bout of moderate-intensity exercise enhances executive functions in older adults. However, in terms of safety, feasibility, and continuity, older individuals prefer light, easy, and fun exercises to moderate and stressful exercises for improving executive functions. Therefore, light-intensity aerobic dance exercise (LADE) could be suitable if it produces potential benefits related to executive functions. As for continuous vs. intermittent exercise, intermittent exercise has received a lot of attention, as it results in greater effects on mood and executive functions than continuous exercise; however, its effects in older adults remain uncertain. Thus, in this study, we aimed to examine the acute effects of intermittent LADE (I-LADE) in comparison with those of continuous LADE (C-LADE) on mood and executive functions. Fifteen healthy older adults participated in 10-min I-LADE and C-LADE conditions on separate days. Perceived enjoyment following exercise was assessed using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). The pleasantness of the mood during exercise and pleasure and arousal levels after exercise were assessed using the Feeling Scale and Two-Dimensional Mood Scale, respectively. Executive function was assessed using the Stroop task before and after exercise. As a result, pleasantness of the mood during exercise and exercise enjoyment levels were greater in I-LADE than in C-LADE. Arousal and pleasure levels and Stroop task performance increased after both LADEs and did not differ between the two exercise conditions. These findings suggest that although enhancement of mood and executive functions after exercise did not differ between C-LADE and I-LADE, I-LADE could be more enjoyable and fun than C-LADE. This study will help in the development of exercise conditions that can enable the elderly to enhance their executive functions in a fun way.

Download Full-text

Distinct effects of acute exercise and breaks in sitting on working memory and executive function in older adults: a three-arm, randomised cross-over trial to evaluate the effects of exercise with and without breaks in sitting on cognition

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2018-100168 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (13) ◽

pp. 776-781 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Michael J Wheeler ◽

Daniel J Green ◽

Kathryn A Ellis ◽

Ester Cerin ◽

Ilkka Heinonen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Light Intensity ◽

Visual Learning ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Intermittent Light ◽

Time Points ◽

Serum Bdnf

BackgroundSedentary behaviour is associated with impaired cognition, whereas exercise can acutely improve cognition.ObjectiveWe compared the effects of a morning bout of moderate-intensity exercise, with and without subsequent light-intensity walking breaks from sitting, on cognition in older adults.MethodsSedentary overweight/obese older adults with normal cognitive function (n=67, 67±7 years, 31.2±4.1 kg/m2) completed three conditions (6-day washout): SIT (sitting): uninterrupted sitting (8 hours, control); EX+SIT (exercise + sitting): sitting (1 hour), moderate-intensity walking (30 min), uninterrupted sitting (6.5 hours); and EX+BR (exercise + breaks): sitting (1 hour), moderate-intensity walking (30 min), sitting interrupted every 30 min with 3 min of light-intensity walking (6.5 hours). Cognitive testing (Cogstate) was completed at four time points assessing psychomotor function, attention, executive function, visual learning and working memory. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor (BDNF) was assessed at six time points. The 8-hour net area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each outcome.ResultsWorking memory net AUC z-score·hour (95% CI) was improved in EX+BR with a z-score of +28 (−26 to +81), relative to SIT, −25 (−79 to +29, p=0.04 vs EX+BR). Executive function net AUC was improved in EX+SIT, −8 (− 71 to +55), relative to SIT, −80 (−142 to −17, p=0.03 vs EX+SIT). Serum BDNF net AUC ng/mL·hour (95% CI) was increased in both EX+SIT, +171 (−449 to +791, p=0.03 vs SIT), and EX+BR, +139 (−481 to +759, p=0.045 vs SIT), relative to SIT, −227 (−851 to +396).ConclusionA morning bout of moderate-intensity exercise improves serum BDNF and working memory or executive function in older adults, depending on whether or not subsequent sitting is also interrupted with intermittent light-intensity walking.Trial registration numberACTRN12614000737639.

Download Full-text

Morning exercise mitigates the impact of prolonged sitting on cerebral blood flow in older adults

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00001.2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 126 (4) ◽

pp. 1049-1055 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Michael J. Wheeler ◽

David W. Dunstan ◽

Brianne Smith ◽

Kurt J. Smith ◽

Anna Scheer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Light Intensity ◽

Blood Velocity ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Time Points ◽

Prolonged Sitting ◽

Cerebral Blood Velocity

Preventing declines in cerebral blood flow is important for maintaining optimal brain health with aging. We compared the effects of a morning bout of moderate-intensity exercise, with and without subsequent light-intensity walking breaks from sitting, on cerebral blood velocity over 8 h in older adults. In a randomized crossover trial, overweight/obese older adults ( n = 12, 70 ± 7 yr; 30.4 ± 4.3 kg/m2), completed three acute conditions (6-day washout); SIT: prolonged sitting (8 h, control); EX+SIT: sitting (1 h), moderate-intensity walking (30 min), followed by uninterrupted sitting (6.5 h); and EX + BR: sitting (1 h), moderate-intensity walking (30 min), followed by sitting (6.5 h) interrupted with 3 min of light-intensity walking every 30 min. Bilateral middle cerebral artery velocities (MCAv) were determined using transcranial Doppler at 13 time points across the day. The temporal pattern and average MCAv over 8 h was determined. The pattern of MCAv over 8 h was a negative linear trend in SIT ( P < 0.001), but a positive quadratic trend in EX + SIT ( P < 0.001) and EX + BR ( P < 0.01). Afternoon time points in SIT were lower than baseline within condition ( P ≤ 0.001 for all). A morning dip in MCAv was observed in EX + SIT and EX + BR ( P < 0.05 relative to baseline), but afternoon time points were not significantly lower than baseline. The average MCAv over 8 h was higher in EX + SIT than SIT ( P = 0.007) or EX + BR ( P = 0.024). Uninterrupted sitting should be avoided, and moderate-intensity exercise should be encouraged for the daily maintenance of cerebral blood flow in older adults. The clinical implications of maintaining adequate cerebral blood flow include the delivery of vital oxygen and nutrients to the brain. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to measure the combined effects of an exercise bout with breaks in sitting on cerebral blood velocity in older adults. Using frequent recordings over an 8-h period, we have performed a novel analysis of the pattern of cerebral blood velocity, adjusting for concurrent measures of mean arterial pressure and other potential confounders in a linear mixed effects regression.

Download Full-text

Shedding Light on the Effects of Moderate Acute Exercise on Working Memory Performance in Healthy Older Adults: An fNIRS Study

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10110813 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 813 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katharina Stute ◽

Nicole Hudl ◽

Robert Stojan ◽

Claudia Voelcker-Rehage

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Acute Exercise ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Beneficial Effects

Numerous studies have reported the beneficial effects of acute exercise on executive functions. Less is known, however, about the effects of exercise on working memory as one subcomponent of executive functions and about its effects on older adults. We investigated the effects of acute moderate-intensity exercise on working memory performance, the respective cortical hemodynamic activation patterns, and the development and persistence of such effects in healthy older adults. Forty-four participants (M: 69.18 years ± 3.92; 21 females) performed a letter 2-back task before and at three time points after (post 15 min, post 30 min, and post 45 min) either listening to an audiobook or exercising (15 min; 50% VO2-peak). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to assess cortical hemodynamic activation and brain-behavior correlations in the fronto-parietal working memory network. Overall, we found no group differences for working memory performance. However, only within the experimental group, 2-back performance was enhanced 15 min and 45 min post-exercise. Furthermore, 15 min post-exercise frontal activation predicted working memory performance, regardless of group. In sum, our results indicate slight beneficial effects of acute moderate-intensity exercise on working memory performance in healthy older adults. Findings are discussed in light of the cognitive aging process and moderators affecting the exercise-cognition relationship.

Download Full-text

Protein consumption following aerobic exercise increases whole-body protein turnover in older adults

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/h10-047 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 583-590 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Cheryl Murphy ◽

Benjamin F. Miller

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Protein Turnover ◽

Whole Body ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Body Protein ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Postexercise Recovery

Research measuring whole-body protein turnover (WBPT) after both exercise and nutrition has generally focused on resistance exercise; however, there is a paucity of data regarding the effect of postaerobic exercise nutrition, especially in older adults. It is not known if postexercise protein feeding has a beneficial effect on protein turnover after low- to moderate-intensity exercise. We investigated whether consuming protein plus carbohydrate (PRO) immediately after an acute bout of aerobic exercise has an additive effect over carbohydrate alone (CHO) on WBPT in older individuals. Twelve healthy older adults (age, 59 ± 4 years) were studied on 2 separate occasions after 1 h of exercise at approximately 50% of maximal rate of oxygen uptake, followed by 4 h of recovery. Immediately following exercise, subjects ingested a CHO (60 g) or an isocaloric PRO beverage (40 g carbohydrate, 20 g whey protein). Whole-body protein metabolism was determined using [1-13C]leucine infusion (60 mg prime; 75 mg·h–1 continuous), and sampling blood and expired breath. Rates of whole-body leucine appearance and oxidation, and nonoxidative leucine disposal during the third and fourth hours of postexercise recovery were higher in the PRO group (2.51 ± 0.55, 0.78 ± 0.37, and 1.71 ± 0.44 µmol·kg–1·min–1, respectively) than in the CHO group (1.81 ± 0.27, 0.33 ± 0.14, and 1.47 ± 0.25 µmol·kg–1·min–1, respectively; p = 0.001). Our results indicate that consumption of a PRO beverage after aerobic exercise increased WBPT to a greater extent than a CHO beverage.

Download Full-text

Increasing skeletal muscle carnitine content in older individuals increases whole‐body fat oxidation during moderate‐intensity exercise

Aging Cell ◽

10.1111/acel.13303 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Carolyn Chee ◽

Chris E. Shannon ◽

Aisling Burns ◽

Anna L. Selby ◽

Daniel Wilkinson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Body Fat ◽

Fat Oxidation ◽

Whole Body ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise

Download Full-text

Effects of priming exercise on the speed of adjustment of muscle oxidative metabolism at the onset of moderate-intensity step transitions in older adults

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.00269.2011 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 302 (10) ◽

pp. R1158-R1166 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Gabriela De Roia ◽

Silvia Pogliaghi ◽

Alessandra Adami ◽

Christina Papadopoulou ◽

Carlo Capelli

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cardiac Output ◽

Oxidative Metabolism ◽

Functional Decline ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Speed Of Adjustment ◽

Priming Exercise ◽

Kinetics Of

Aging is associated with a functional decline of the oxidative metabolism due to progressive limitations of both O2 delivery and utilization. Priming exercise (PE) increases the speed of adjustment of oxidative metabolism during successive moderate-intensity transitions. We tested the hypothesis that such improvement is due to a better matching of O2 delivery to utilization within the working muscles. In 21 healthy older adults (65.7 ± 5 yr), we measured contemporaneously noninvasive indexes of the overall speed of adjustment of the oxidative metabolism (i.e., pulmonary V̇o2 kinetics), of the bulk O2 delivery (i.e., cardiac output), and of the rate of muscle deoxygenation (i.e., deoxygenated hemoglobin, HHb) during moderate-intensity step transitions, either with (ModB) or without (ModA) prior PE. The local matching of O2 delivery to utilization was evaluated by the ΔHHb/ΔV̇o2 ratio index. The overall speed of adjustment of the V̇o2 kinetics was significantly increased in ModB compared with ModA ( P < 0.05). On the contrary, the kinetics of cardiac output was unaffected by PE. At the muscle level, ModB was associated with a significant reduction of the “overshoot” in the ΔHHb/ΔV̇o2 ratio compared with ModA ( P < 0.05), suggesting an improved O2 delivery. Our data are compatible with the hypothesis that, in older adults, PE, prior to moderate-intensity exercise, beneficially affects the speed of adjustment of oxidative metabolism due to an acute improvement of the local matching of O2 delivery to utilization.

Download Full-text

Objective and subjective measures of exercise intensity during thermo-neutral and hot yoga

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2017-0495 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 397-402 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Corinne N. Boyd ◽

Stephanie M. Lannan ◽

Micah N. Zuhl ◽

Ricardo Mora-Rodriguez ◽

Rachael K. Nelson

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Consumption ◽

Light Intensity ◽

Exercise Intensity ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Maximal Oxygen Consumption ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Subjective Measures ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Constant Intensity

While hot yoga has gained enormous popularity in recent years, owing in part to increased environmental challenge associated with exercise in the heat, it is not clear whether hot yoga is more vigorous than thermo-neutral yoga. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine objective and subjective measures of exercise intensity during constant intensity yoga in a hot and thermo-neutral environment. Using a randomized, crossover design, 14 participants completed 2 identical ∼20-min yoga sessions in a hot (35.3 ± 0.8 °C; humidity: 20.5% ± 1.4%) and thermo-neutral (22.1 ± 0.2 °C; humidity: 27.8% ± 1.6%) environment. Oxygen consumption and heart rate (HR) were recorded as objective measures (percentage of maximal oxygen consumption and percentage of maximal HR (%HRmax)) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded as a subjective measure of exercise intensity. There was no difference in exercise intensity based on percentage of maximal oxygen consumption during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga (30.9% ± 2.3% vs. 30.5% ± 1.8%, p = 0.68). However, exercise intensity was significantly higher during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga based on %HRmax (67.0% ± 2.3% vs. 60.8% ± 1.9%, p = 0.01) and RPE (12 ± 1 vs. 11 ± 1, p = 0.04). According to established exercise intensities, hot yoga was classified as light-intensity exercise based on percentage of maximal oxygen consumption but moderate-intensity exercise based on %HRmax and RPE while thermo-neutral yoga was classified as light-intensity exercise based on percentage of maximal oxygen uptake, %HRmax, and RPE. Despite the added hemodynamic stress and perception that yoga is more strenuous in a hot environment, we observed similar oxygen consumption during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga, classifying both exercise modalities as light-intensity exercise.

Download Full-text

High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Cognitive Flexibility in Older Adults

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10110796 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 796

Author(s):

Said Mekari ◽

Heather F. Neyedli ◽

Sarah Fraser ◽

Myles W. O’Brien ◽

Ricardo Martins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Executive Function ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Cognitive Flexibility ◽

Stroop Task ◽

Interval Training ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

High Intensity Interval Training ◽

Continuous Training ◽

High Intensity Interval

Introduction: Regular aerobic exercise is associated with better executive function in older adults. It is unclear if high-intensity-interval-training (HIIT) elicits moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) or resistance training (RT). We hypothesized that HIIT would augment executive function more than MICT and RT. Methods: Sixty-nine older adults (age: 68 ± 7 years) performed six weeks (three days/week) of HIIT (2 × 20 min bouts alternating between 15 s intervals at 100% of peak power output (PPO) and passive recovery (0% PPO); n = 24), MICT (34 min at 60% PPO; n = 19), or whole-body RT (eight exercise superior improvements in executive function of older adults than moderate-intensity-continuous-training, 2 × 10 repetitions; n = 26). Cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., V˙O2max) and executive function were assessed before and after each intervention via a progressive maximal cycle ergometer protocol and the Stroop Task, respectively. Results: The V˙O2max findings revealed a significant group by time interaction (p = 0.001) in which all groups improved following training, but HIIT and MICT improved more than RT. From pre- to post-training, no interaction in the naming condition of the Stroop Task was observed (p > 0.10). However, interaction from pre- to post-training by group was observed, and only the HIIT group exhibited a faster reaction time (from 1250 ± 50 to 1100 ± 50 ms; p < 0.001) in switching (cognitive flexibility). Conclusion: Despite similar improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, HIIT, but not MICT nor RT, enhanced cognitive flexibility in older adults. Exercise programs should consider using HIIT protocols in an effort to combat cognitive decline in older adults.

Download Full-text

Effect of exercise on acute postprandial glucose concentrations and interleukin-6 responses in sedentary and overweight males

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2018-0160 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (12) ◽

pp. 1298-1306 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aaron Raman ◽

Jeremiah J. Peiffer ◽

Gerard F. Hoyne ◽

Nathan G. Lawler ◽

Andrew J. Currie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Glucose Tolerance ◽

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Intermittent Exercise ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Oral Glucose ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Blood Samples

This study examined the effect of 2 forms of exercise on glucose tolerance and the concurrent changes in markers associated with the interleukin (IL)-6 pathways. Fifteen sedentary, overweight males (29.0 ± 3.1 kg/m2) completed 2 separate, 3-day trials in randomised and counterbalanced order. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 75 g) was performed at the same time on each day of the trial. Day 2 of each trial consisted of a single 30-min workload-matched bout of either high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE; alternating 100% and 50% of peak oxygen uptake) or continuous moderate-intensity exercise (CME; 60 % of peak oxygen uptake) completed 1 h prior to the OGTT. Venous blood samples were collected before, immediately after, 1 h after, and 25 h after exercise for measurement of insulin, C-peptide, IL-6, and the soluble IL-6 receptors (sIL-6R; soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130)). Glucose area under the curve (AUC) was calculated from capillary blood samples collected throughout the OGTT. Exercise resulted in a modest (4.4%; p = 0.003) decrease in the glucose AUC when compared with the pre-exercise AUC; however, no differences were observed between exercise conditions (p = 0.65). IL-6 was elevated immediately after and 1 h after exercise, whilst sgp130 and sIL-6R concentrations were reduced immediately after exercise. In summary, exercise was effective in reducing glucose AUC, which was attributed to improvements that took place between 60 and 120 min into the OGTT, and was in parallel with an increased ratio of IL-6 to sIL-6R, which accords with an increased activation via the “classical” IL-6 signalling pathway. Our findings suggest that acute HIIE did not improve glycaemic response when compared with CME.

Download Full-text

Effect of short moderate intensity exercise bouts on cardiovascular function and maximal oxygen consumption in sedentary older adults

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000672 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000672 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Karani Magutah ◽

Kihumbu Thairu ◽

Nilesh Patel

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Oxygen Consumption ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure ◽

Maximal Oxygen Consumption ◽

Cardiovascular Function ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Group Differences ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise

AimTo investigate effect of <10 min moderate intensity exercise on cardiovascular function and maximal oxygen consumption (V˙ O2max) among sedentary adults.MethodsWe studied 53 sedentary urbanites aged ≥50 years, randomised into: (1) male (MS) and (2) female (FS) undertaking three short-duration exercise (5–10 min) daily, and (3) male (ML) and (4) female (FL) exercising 30–60 min 3–5 days weekly. Resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate and V˙ O2max were measured at baseline and 8 weekly for 24 weeks.ResultsAt baseline, 50% MS, 61.5% ML, 53.8% FS and 53.8% FL had SBP ≥120 mm Hg, and 14.3% MS, 53.8% ML, 23.1% FS and 38.5% FL had DBP ≥80 mm Hg. At 24 weeks, where SBP remained ≥120 mm Hg, values decreased from 147±19.2 to 132.3±9.6 mm Hg (50% of MS), from 144±12.3 to 128±7.0 mm Hg (23.1% of ML), from 143.1±9.6 to 128.0±7.0 mm Hg (53.8% of FS) and from 152.3±23.7 to 129±3.7 mm Hg (30.8% of FL). For DBP ≥80 mm Hg, MS and FS percentages maintained, but values decreased from 101±15.6 to 84.5±0.7 mm Hg (MS) and 99.0±3.6 to 87.7±4.9 mm Hg (FS). In ML and FL, percentage with DBP ≥80 mm Hg dropped to 15.4% (86.1±6.5 to 82.5±3.5 mm Hg) and (91.4±5.3 to 83.5±0.71 mm Hg). V˙ O2max increased from 26.1±4.4 to 32.0±6.2 for MS, from 25.8±5.1 to 28.8±5.4 for ML (group differences p=0.02), from 20.2±1.8 to 22.7±2.0 for FS and from 21.2±1.9 to 24.2±2.7 for FL (groups differences p=0.38).ConclusionAccumulated moderate intensity exercise bouts of <10 min confer similar-to-better cardiovascular and V˙ O2max improvements compared with current recommendations among sedentary adults.

Download Full-text