AUTHOR=Boa Sorte Silva Narlon C. , Petrella Andrea F. M. , Christopher Nathan , Marriott Catherine F. S. , Gill Dawn P. , Owen Adrian M. , Petrella Robert J. 

TITLE=The Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training on Cognition and Blood Pressure in Older Adults With Hypertension and Subjective Cognitive Decline: Results From the Heart & Mind Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.643809

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2021.643809

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> The impact of exercise on cognition in older adults with hypertension and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is unclear.</p><p><bold>Objectives:</bold> We determined the influence of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with mind-motor training on cognition and systolic blood pressure (BP) in older adults with hypertension and SCD.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We randomized 128 community-dwelling older adults [age mean (SD): 71.1 (6.7), 47.7% females] with history of hypertension and SCD to either HIIT or a moderate-intensity continuous training (MCT) group. Both groups received 15 min of mind-motor training followed by 45 min of either HIIT or MCT. Participants exercised in total 60 min/day, 3 days/week for 6 months. We assessed changes in global cognitive functioning (GCF), Trail-Making Test (TMT), systolic and diastolic BP, and cardiorespiratory fitness.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Participants in both groups improved diastolic BP [<italic>F</italic><sub>(1, 87.32)</sub> = 4.392, <italic>p</italic> = 0.039], with greatest effect within the HIIT group [estimated mean change (95% CI): −2.64 mmHg, (−4.79 to −0.48), <italic>p</italic> = 0.017], but no between-group differences were noted (<italic>p</italic> = 0.17). Both groups also improved cardiorespiratory fitness [<italic>F</italic><sub>(1, 69)</sub> = 34.795, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001], and TMT A [<italic>F</italic><sub>(1, 81.51)</sub> = 26.871, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001] and B [<italic>F</italic><sub>(1, 79.49)</sub> = 23.107, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001]. There were, however, no within- or between-group differences in GCF and systolic BP at follow-up.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Despite improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, exercise of high- or moderate-intensity, combined with mind-motor training, did not improve GCF or systolic BP in individuals with hypertension and SCD.</p><p><bold>Clinical Trial Registration:</bold><ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://ClinicalTrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ClinicalTrials.gov</ext-link> (NCT03545958).</p>