Weekend warrior exercise model for protection from chronic mild stress‑induced depression and ongoing cognitive impairment

Abstract

We aim to investigate the role and biological mechanisms of the weekend warrior (WW) exercise model on depression‑induced rats in comparison to the continuous exercise (CE) model. Sedentary, WW, and CE rats were subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS) procedure. CMS and exercise protocols continued for six weeks. Anhedonia was evaluated by sucrose preference, depressive behavior by Porsolt, cognitive functions by object recognition and passive avoidance, and anxiety levels by open field and elevated plus maze. After behavioral assessments, brain tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and GSH content, tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α), interleukin‑6 (IL‑6), IL‑1β, cortisol and brain‑derived neurotrophic factor levels and histological damage was assessed. CMS‑induced depression‑like outcomes with increases in anhedonia and decreases in cognitive measures that are rescued with both exercise models. The increased immobilization time in the Porsolt test was decreased with only WW. Exercise also normalized the suppression of antioxidant capacity and MPO increase induced by CMS in both exercise models. MDA levels also declined with both exercise models. Anxiety‑like behavior, cortisol levels, and histological damage scores were exacerbated with depression and improved by both exercise models. TNF‑α levels were depleted with both exercise models, and IL‑6 only with WW. WW was as protective as CE in CMS‑induced depression‑like cognitive and behavioral changes via suppressing inflammatory processes and improving antioxidant capacity.

Physical activity patterns and cognitive function in elderly women: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2011–2014

“…Additionally, the WW may align better with the lifestyles of older adults, offering a more achievable and sustainable approach to PA, which in turn could lead to more consistent long-term engagement (Dos Santos et al, 2022;O'Donovan et al, 2024). This pattern of activity might also mitigate the effects of sedentary behavior accumulated over the week (Khurshid et al, 2023), countering cognitive decline more effectively than previously assumed (Öztürk et al, 2023;Raichlen et al, 2023). Furthermore, the psychological benefits of fulfilling exercise recommendations within a shorter time frame could contribute to reduced stress and improved mental health (Agudelo et al, 2014;Gujral et al, 2024), thereby indirectly benefiting CF.…”

“…Mechanistically, exercise induces a plethora of physiological benefits, including enhanced blood flow to the brain (Ahlskog et al, 2011 ), increased growth factor levels that facilitate neurogenesis (Ahlskog, 2011 ), and improved mood and sleep (Jiang et al, 2024 ; Soini et al, 2024 ), all of which are conducive to cognitive wellbeing. However, the relationship between different patterns of PA, such as the “weekend warrior” (WW) model (characterized by concentrated bouts of exercise during limited days) vs. regular exercise (RE), consistent exercise routines, and their respective impacts on the cognitive health of elderly women remains underexplored (Öztürk et al, 2023 ). This gap in knowledge signifies a critical area of investigation, as understanding the differential effects of these exercise patterns could inform more personalized and effective approaches to preventing cognitive decline in this high-risk population.…”