Even Moderate Activity Produces Short Term Cognitive Improvement
Some parts of the brain appear to be operating beneath their capacity while provided with the baseline, resting supply of nutrients from the bloodstream. Exercise produces short-term gains in cognitive function, perhaps in a very direct way by increasing cerebral blood flow and thus the capacity of neurons for activity. Researchers here provide evidence for even comparatively modest activity to have this effect in older people, though interestingly some of the candidate signal molecules thought to mediate these effects did not appear to be involved.
The global burden of age-related cognitive decline is increasing, with the number of people aged 60 and over expected to double by 2050. This study compares the acute effects of age-appropriate cognitively demanding aerobic exercises involving walking, on cognitive functions and exerkine responses such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cathepsin B (CTSB) in older, healthy adults. Healthy older golfers (n=25, 16 male and 9 female, 69±4 years) were enrolled in a 5-day randomised cross-over study and completed three different exercise trials (18-hole golf round, 6 km Nordic walking, 6 km walking) in a real-life environment, in random order and at a self-selected pace. Differences in cognition (the Trail-Making Test (TMT) AB) and exerkines (BDNF and CTSB) were analysed within groups and between groups.
All exercise types resulted in a significant decrease in the TMT A-test (golf: -4.43±1.5 s, Nordic walking: -4.63±1.6 s, walking: -6.75±2.26 s), where Nordic walking and walking demonstrated a decrease in the TMT B-test (Nordic walking: -9.62±7.2 s, walking: -7.55±3.2 s). In addition, all exercise types produced significant decreases in the TMT AB test scores, and Nordic walking showed decreases in the TMTB-TMTA-test. There were no immediate postexercise changes in the levels of BDNF or CTSB.
Acute bouts of golf, Nordic walking and walking improved cognitive functions irrespective of exerkines in healthy older adults. In addition, Nordic walking and walking in general enhanced executive functions. No significant effects were seen on the levels of BDNF and CTSB.