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

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 813 ◽  
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.

Effects of Acute Exercise on Memory Performance in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Etnier ◽  
Jarod C. Vance ◽  
Aiko Ueno
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽  
Auditory Learning ◽  
Verbal Test ◽  
Within Subjects

Numerous studies show that exercise benefits memory and some show that acute exercise prior to encoding has larger benefits than exercise after encoding. This study was designed to investigate the effects of acute exercise on memory in middle-aged and older adults (Mage = 64.71 years) and to explore the influence of the timing of the exercise on these effects. Using a within-subjects design, moderate-intensity exercise (20 min) was either not performed (control), performed before the task (exercise prior), or performed after the task (exercise post). Memory was assessed using the Rey Auditory Learning Verbal Test. For short- and long-term memory and learning, significantly more words were remembered in the exercise-prior condition than the others. For 24-hr recall, participants remembered significantly more words in the exercise-prior condition than exercise post, which was better than control. Exercise benefits memory for healthy middle-aged and older adults, with the greatest benefits when performed prior to encoding.

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

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (10) ◽  
pp. R1158-R1166 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals The Effect of Single Bout of Acute Exercise on Working Memory Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 484-487
Author(s):  
Santosh Kumar Deo ◽  
Kopila Agrawal ◽  
Prem Bhattrai ◽  
Raju Kumar Chaudhary
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Test Procedure ◽  
Step Test ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Exercise Session ◽  
Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽  
Single Bout ◽  
Back Task

Introduction: Working memory is a kind of short term memory important for reasoning and guiding decision-making and behavioral process.Objective: The goal of the present research was to study the outcome of single bout of acute moderate-intensity exercise on working memory.Methodology: Twenty two male subjects were asked to perform working memory task by 2n back task in baseline resting, immediately after exercise and after five minute of exercise session. 3 minute step test procedure was used as a moderate intensity exercise intervention.Results: The percentage correctness of 2n back task of working memory was found to be 64.36% for baseline resting condition, 78.01 % for immediately after 3-minute step test and 80.70% for 5 minute after the exercise. In both exercise session (i.e. immediately after exercise and after 5 minute of exercise), significant improvement (p value <0.05) in working memory was seen as compared to the baseline resting session while no such significant beneficial improvement was seen when compared between immediately after exercise and after 5 minute of exercise.Conclusion: Improvement in working memory after moderate exercise intervention was seen, which is important for learning and memory and decision-making.  BJHS 2018;3(2)6:484-487.

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

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (13) ◽  
pp. 776-781 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals The Acute Effects of Different Exercise Intensities on Associative Novel Word Learning in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Marie-Pier McSween ◽  
Katie L. McMahon ◽  
Kylie Maguire ◽  
Jeff S. Coombes ◽  
Amy D. Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Word Learning ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Word Recall ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Learning Abilities ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Continuous Exercise ◽  
Lower Baseline

Recent studies show positive effects of acute exercise on language learning in young adults with lower baseline learning abilities; however, this is yet to be investigated in older adults. This study investigated the acute effects of different exercise intensities on new word learning in healthy older adults with lower and higher baseline learning abilities. Sixty older adults (mean age = 66.4 (4.6); 43 females) performed either a single bout of stretching exercise, moderate-intensity continuous exercise, or high-intensity interval exercise followed by a word learning task. In lower baseline learners, between-group differences were observed on immediate new word recall success, with the moderate-intensity continuous exercise group performing better than the stretching group. These findings suggest immediate benefits of moderate-intensity continuous exercise that are limited to word learning performance of older adults with lower baseline learning abilities. Further investigation into underlying mechanisms could lead to a better understanding of individual differences in responding to acute exercise.

scholarly journals EXERCISE ACUTELY IMPROVES COGNITION IN HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS: THE ROLE OF AROUSAL

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S836-S836
Author(s):  
Pearl N Cummins ◽  
James Kent ◽  
Timothy Weng ◽  
Vincent Magnottta ◽  
Gary Pierce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Sympathetic Activity ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽  
Back Task

Abstract Previous researchers have reported that aerobic exercise improves cognition in older adults; however, few researchers have examined the role of arousal on improvements in cognition after exercise. The purpose of this study was to understand how changes in arousal acutely affect changes in cognitive performance after a single session of light compared to moderate intensity aerobic exercise. Cognitively normal older adults (N = 34) were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial where they were asked to complete the N-back task with faces, a cognitive task used to test working memory, in an fMRI scanner. On separate days, the task was completed before and 15 to 20 minutes after light and moderate intensity exercise. An intervention was also completed, but our question focuses on the acute effects of exercise rather than training. Arousal was measured before and after exercise through a questionnaire and a direct measure of physiological activation of the sympathetic nervous system with galvanic skin response (GSR). On average, resting GSRs decreased from pre- to post-exercise scan; however, the change was not statistically significant. The decrease in arousal after light exercise indicated that older adults had decreased sympathetic activity after both light and moderate intensity exercise. By contrast, N-back task performance improved most after moderate compared to light intensity exercise. Together, evidence that sympathetic activity tended to decrease generally for both intensities, whereas cognitive improvements were more specific, suggests that changes in arousal at rest were not a critical factor connecting exercise and improved working memory in this study.

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