BackgroundHuman brain function declines with aging. In this sense, exercise-based interventions has a promising effect on brain plasticity for older adults. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a positive biomarker for brain neuroplasticity in healthy older adults also modified by exercise training. Selected features of the exercise prescription for improving brain health are missing; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of concurrent exercise training frequency on serum BDNF levels in healthy older adults.MethodsNineteen volunteers (age: 65 ± 4 year; body mass index: 28.0 ± 4.5 kg/m2) completed either a three times/week (3-t/w) (n = 8) or five times/week (5-t/w) (n = 11) concurrent exercise program. The exercise program lasted 11 weeks and all exercise sessions were performed for 50 min at moderate intensity. Serum BDNF, body composition, cardiovascular, and physical fitness variables were assessed before and after the exercise training program.ResultsRegardless of the group, the serum BDNF increased following the intervention (p < 0.001), and there were no significant group (p = 0.827) or interaction (p = 0.063) effects. The maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) increased regardless of the group (p = 0.007), with a non-significant group (p = 0.722) or interaction (p = 0.223) effects. Upper- and lower-body strength increased in both groups (p = 0.003); however, there was no effect of the training frequency (p = 0.53). For the skeletal muscle mass, there was a trend in the interaction effect (p = 0.053). Finally, the body fat percentage was unchanged.ConclusionEleven weeks of combined exercise training increased serum BDNF levels in healthy older adults, a response independent of the training frequency. The overall fitness level improved similarly in both exercise groups. These data reveal that a minimal dosage of concurrent exercise enhance functional capacity and a brain health biomarker in older adults.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an exercise modality acknowledged to maintain physical fitness with more engagement in an active lifestyle compared with other traditional exercise models. Nevertheless, its effects on cardiac control and physical performance in an online-guided setting are not yet clarified. The present work assessed physical fitness and heart rate variability (HRV) before and after an online, home-based HIIT program in college-age students while pandemic lockdowns were in effect. Twenty university students (age: 21.9 ± 2.4 years.) that were solely enrolled in online classes were distributed into three groups: control—CON-(n = 6), 14 min of HIIT—HIIT-14-(n = 8), and 21 min of HIIT—HIIT-21-(n = 6). A maximal push-up test was employed to assess muscular endurance and performance, and resting HRV signals were collected with wireless heart rate monitors and were processed in Kubios HRV Std. (Kubios Oy, Finland). There was an increase in total push-up capacity compared to CON (p < 0.05 HIIT-21 vs. CON; p < 0.001 HIIT-14 vs. CON) after 8 weeks. A significant interaction was observed in high-frequency and low-frequency spectra ratios after the HIIT-21 intervention (p < 0.05). The current work demonstrated that either short- or mid-volume online, whole-body HIIT improves muscle strength, whereas mid-volume HIIT (HIIT-21) was the only intervention that developed a sympathovagal adaptation. This study showed promising results on muscular endurance and cardiac autonomic modulation through whole-body HIIT practice at home.
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