Increased brain glucose uptake after 12 weeks of aerobic high-intensity interval training in young and older adults
MM Robinson, VJ Lowe, KS Nair - The Journal of Clinical …, 2018 - academic.oup.com
MM Robinson, VJ Lowe, KS Nair
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2018•academic.oup.comContext Aerobic exercise training can increase brain volume and blood flow, but the impact
on brain metabolism is less known. Objective We determined whether high-intensity interval
training (HIIT) increases brain metabolism by measuring brain glucose uptake in younger
and older adults. Design Brain glucose uptake was measured before and after HIIT or a
sedentary (SED) control period within a larger exercise study. Setting Study procedures
were performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Participants Participants were younger …
on brain metabolism is less known. Objective We determined whether high-intensity interval
training (HIIT) increases brain metabolism by measuring brain glucose uptake in younger
and older adults. Design Brain glucose uptake was measured before and after HIIT or a
sedentary (SED) control period within a larger exercise study. Setting Study procedures
were performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Participants Participants were younger …
Context
Aerobic exercise training can increase brain volume and blood flow, but the impact on brain metabolism is less known.
Objective
We determined whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) increases brain metabolism by measuring brain glucose uptake in younger and older adults.
Design
Brain glucose uptake was measured before and after HIIT or a sedentary (SED) control period within a larger exercise study.
Setting
Study procedures were performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Participants
Participants were younger (18 to 30 years) or older (65 to 80 years) SED adults who were free of major medical conditions. Group sizes were 15 for HIIT (nine younger and six older) and 12 for SED (six younger and six older).
Intervention
Participants completed 12 weeks of HIIT or SED. HIIT was 3 days per week of 4 × 4 minute intervals at over 90% of peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak) with 2 days per week of treadmill walking at 70% VO2peak.
Main Outcome Measures
Resting brain glucose uptake was measured using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans at baseline and at week 12. Scans were performed at 96 hours after exercise. VO2peak was measured by indirect calorimetry.
Results
Glucose uptake increased significantly in the parietal-temporal and caudate regions after HIIT compared with SED. The gains with HIIT were not observed in all brain regions. VO2peak was increased for all participants after HIIT and did not change with SED.
Conclusion
We demonstrate that brain glucose metabolism increased after 12 weeks of HIIT in adults in regions where it is reduced in Alzheimer’s disease.
Oxford University Press