Kušleikienė Simona, Ziv Gal, Vints Wouter A J, Krasinskė Erika, Šarkinaite Milda, Qipo Orgesa, Bautmans Ivan, Himmelreich Uwe, Masiulis Nerijus, Česnaitienė Vida J, Levin Oron
Department of Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas LT-44221, Lithuania.
Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas LT-44221, Lithuania; The Levinsky-Wingate Academic Center, Netanya 4290200, Israel.
Brain Res Bull. 2025 Mar;222:111249. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111249. Epub 2025 Feb 13.
In this randomized controlled trial, we assessed the neuroprotective effect of a 12-week resistance training (RT) program on executive control and cortical thickness of the prefrontal, temporal, parietal, and central cortex, regions prone to structural decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Seventy older adults (aged 60-85 y old, 38 females and 32 males) were randomly allocated to a 12-week lower limb RT program or a waiting list control group. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to stratify participants screened for high (< 26) or low (≥ 26) MCI risk. Cognitive measurements consisted of the two-choice reaction time, Go/No-go, mathematical processing, and memory search tests. Cortical thickness was estimated from 3D T1-weighted MR images.
Complete randomized controlled trial data was obtained from 50 individuals (24 with high MCI risk). Significant Group x Time interactions were found for response on the Go/No-go task and cortical thickness of the right parahippocampal gyrus [F ≥ 5.3, p ≤ 0.03; η ≥ 0.12]. An inspection of these observations revealed an increase in cortical thickness (+1.18 %) and a decrease in response time (-4.35 %) in individuals with high MCI risk allocated to the exercise group (both uncorrected p = 0.08). Decreased response time on the Go/No-go task was associated with increased cortical thickness in the right entorhinal gyrus (uncorrected p = 0.01).
Our study demonstrated that 12 weeks of RT intervention may effectively improve cognitive performance and slow neuronal loss in the hippocampal complex of older adults at high MCI risk. Findings support evidence for the neuroprotective effects of resistance training and its potential role in cognitive health.
在这项随机对照试验中，我们评估了一项为期12周的抗阻训练（RT）计划对执行控制以及前额叶、颞叶、顶叶和中央皮质（轻度认知障碍[MCI]个体中易出现结构衰退的区域）皮质厚度的神经保护作用。
70名老年人（年龄60 - 85岁，38名女性和32名男性）被随机分配到为期12周的下肢RT计划组或等待名单对照组。使用蒙特利尔认知评估（MoCA）对筛查出高（<26）或低（≥26）MCI风险的参与者进行分层。认知测量包括二选一反应时间、Go/No-go任务、数学处理和记忆搜索测试。皮质厚度通过3D T1加权磁共振图像进行估计。
从50名个体（24名高MCI风险个体）获得了完整的随机对照试验数据。在Go/No-go任务的反应和右侧海马旁回的皮质厚度方面发现了显著的组×时间交互作用[F≥5.3，p≤0.03；η≥0.12]。对这些观察结果的检查显示，分配到运动组的高MCI风险个体的皮质厚度增加（+1.18%），反应时间缩短（-4.35%）（两者未经校正的p = 0.08）。Go/No-go任务中反应时间的缩短与右侧内嗅皮质皮质厚度的增加相关（未经校正的p = 0.01）。
我们的研究表明，12周的RT干预可能有效改善高MCI风险老年人的认知表现，并减缓海马复合体中的神经元损失。研究结果支持了抗阻训练的神经保护作用及其在认知健康中的潜在作用的证据。
