Long-term high-intensity interval training increases serum neurotrophic factors in elderly overweight and obese
Xi Li1, Tianyu Han1, Xu Zou2
1China Institute of Sport Science, 11 Tiyuguan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100061, China.
Purpose:
To compare the effects of 12-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and vigorous-intensity continuous training (VICT) on cognitive function, physical fitness, VO2max, serum neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors in overweight and obese elderly individuals.
Methods:
Twenty-nine physically inactive older adults (18 males and 11 females) with a mean age of 64.8 ± 3.9 years were randomly divided into a control group (CON, n = 9), an HIIT group (4 × 3 min at 90% VO2max interspersed with 3 min at 60% VO2max, n = 10) and a VICT group (25 min at 70% VO2max, n = 10) and submitted to 12 weeks of training. Cognitive function questionnaires, physical fitness, VO2max, serum neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors were determined at baseline and post training.
Results:
Twelve weeks of HIIT and VICT improved the VO2max (4.19 ± 2.21 and 1.84 ± 1.63 mL/kg/min, respectively, p = 0.005), sit-and-reach distance (8.7 ± 3.0 and 7.8 ± 3.8 cm, p = 0.033), choice reaction time (- 0.115 ± 0.15 and - 0.09 ± 0.15 s, p = 0.004) and one-leg stand time (4.4 ± 3.4 and 4.2 ± 4.0 s, p < 0.001) of the elderly participants. The serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (375.5 ± 247.9 and 227.0 ± 137.1 pg/ml, p = 0.006), nerve growth factor (33.9 ± 16.7 and 23.3 ± 14.5 pg/ml, p = 0.037), neurotrophin-3 (24.2 ± 9.33 and 16.3 ± 5.91 pg/ml, p = 0.006) and neurotrophin-4 (10.4 ± 3.8 and 7.8 ± 5.0 pg/ml, p = 0.029) increased significantly in the HIIT and VICT groups after training. In addition, compared to VICT, HIIT significantly increased VO2max and the serum neurotrophin-3 concentration. Serum concentrations of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin trended upward with training. No significant change was observed in the cognitive function questionnaire scores (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
HIIT is suitable for elderly adults and is more effective than VICT for improving VO2max and serum neurotrophin-3 concentrations.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Number:
No. ChiCTR1900022315, date of registration: 4 April 2019.
