High-Intensity Interval Training Enhances Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Study

A longitudinal study by University of Queensland researchers has found that high-intensity interval exercise improves brain function in older adults for up to 5 years.

The research was published in the journal Aging and Disease.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) benefits older adults by significantly improving cognitive function. This exercise method, involving short bursts of intense activity, enhances brain health more effectively than moderate or low-intensity workouts. Incorporating HIIT into regular routines helps maintain and boost cognitive abilities, promoting better overall brain function in seniors.

For the study, researchers evaluated the impact of three exercise intensities on cognitive function in older adults:

Low intensity: Focused on motor function, balance, and stretching

Medium intensity: Involved brisk walking on a treadmill

High intensity: Consisted of four cycles of running on a treadmill at near maximum exertion

The result showed that high-intensity interval exercise led to cognitive improvements that persisted for up to five years. High-resolution MRI scans of participants in this group showed structural and connectivity changes in the hippocampus, the brain area responsible for learning and memory. Additionally, blood biomarkers correlated with cognitive improvements, indicating their potential use in predicting the effectiveness of the exercise regimen.

Given that one in three people aged 85 years or older is likely to develop dementia, these findings have significant implications. The results could inform exercise guidelines for older adults, and future research could explore different types of exercise suitable for aged care. The study also highlighted the need to investigate genetic factors that may influence an individual's response to exercise and the potential use of biomarkers as a diagnostic tool for exercise efficacy.

“Six months of high-intensity interval training is enough to flick the switch. In earlier pre-clinical work, we discovered exercise can activate stem cells and increase the production of neurons in the hippocampus, improving cognition. In this study, a large cohort of healthy 65 – 85-year-old volunteers joined a six-month exercise program, did biomarker and cognition testing and had high-resolution brain scans. We followed up with them 5 years after the program and incredibly they still had improved cognition, even if they hadn't kept up with the exercises,” said Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlet.

Reference: Blackmore, D. G., et al. (2024) Long-Term Improvement in Hippocampal-Dependent Learning Ability in Healthy, Aged Individuals Following High Intensity Interval Training. Aging and Disease. doi.org/10.14336/AD.2024.0642.