Oroszi Tamás, Geerts Eva, de Boer Sietse F, Schoemaker Regien G, van der Zee Eddy A, Nyakas Csaba
Department of Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
Research Center for Molecular Exercise Science, University of Physical Education, Budapest, Hungary.
Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Jan 21;13:801828. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.801828. eCollection 2021.
Aging is a progressive process leading to functional decline in many domains. Recent studies have shown that physical exercise (PE) has a positive influence on the progression of age-related functional decline, including motor and brain functions. Whole body vibration (WBV) is a form of passive stimulation by mechanical vibration platforms, which offers an alternative for PE interventions, especially for aged individuals. WBV has been demonstrated to mimic the beneficial effects of PE on the musculoskeletal system, as well on the central nervous system. However, preclinical data with aged rodents are very limited. Hence, the purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of a 5-week WBV intervention with an aged animal model on memory functions, anxiety-related behavior, and motor performance. The 18-month old male ( = 14) and female ( = 14) Wistar rats were divided into two groups, namely, vibration and pseudo-vibration. Animals underwent a 5-week WBV intervention protocol with low intensity (frequency of 30 Hz and amplitude of 50-200 μm) stimulation. After 5 weeks, the following cognitive and motor tests were administered: open-field, novel and spatial object recognition, grip-hanging, and balance-beam. WBV-treated rats showed a decrease in their anxiety level in the open field test compared with those in the pseudo-treated controls. In addition, WBV-treated male animals showed significantly increased rearing in the open-field test compared to their pseudo controls. Spatial memory was significantly improved by WBV treatment, whereas WBV had no effect on object memory. Regarding motor performance, both grip strength and motor coordination were improved by WBV treatment. Our results indicate that WBV seems to have comparable beneficial effects on age-related emotional, cognitive, and motor decline as what has been reported for active PE. No striking differences were found between the sexes. As such, these findings further support the idea that WBV could be considered as a useful alternative for PE in case active PE cannot be performed due to physical or mental issues.
衰老为一个渐进的过程，会导致多个领域的功能衰退。近期研究表明，体育锻炼（PE）对与年龄相关的功能衰退进程具有积极影响，包括运动和脑功能。全身振动（WBV）是通过机械振动平台进行的一种被动刺激形式，它为体育锻炼干预提供了一种替代方式，尤其适用于老年人。WBV已被证明可模拟体育锻炼对肌肉骨骼系统以及中枢神经系统的有益作用。然而，关于老年啮齿动物的临床前数据非常有限。因此，本实验的目的是研究在老年动物模型上进行为期5周的WBV干预对记忆功能、焦虑相关行为和运动表现的影响。将18个月大的雄性（n = 14）和雌性（n = 14）Wistar大鼠分为两组，即振动组和假振动组。动物接受为期5周的低强度（频率30 Hz，振幅50 - 200μm）WBV干预方案。5周后，进行以下认知和运动测试：旷场试验、新异和空间物体识别、握力悬挂和平衡木试验。与假处理对照组相比，接受WBV处理的大鼠在旷场试验中的焦虑水平降低。此外，与假对照组相比，接受WBV处理的雄性动物在旷场试验中的竖毛行为显著增加。WBV处理可显著改善空间记忆，而对物体记忆无影响。关于运动表现，WBV处理可提高握力和运动协调性。我们的结果表明，WBV似乎对与年龄相关的情绪、认知和运动衰退具有与主动体育锻炼相当的有益作用。未发现性别之间存在显著差异。因此，这些发现进一步支持了以下观点：如果由于身体或精神问题无法进行主动体育锻炼，WBV可被视为体育锻炼的一种有用替代方式。
