Soga Keishi, Takahashi Michio, Uno Akari, Sinada Takamitsu, Oba Kentaro, Kawashima Keisei, Tatewaki Yasuko, Nakase Taizen, Taki Yasuyuki
Smart Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
Department of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Trials. 2025 Mar 18;26(1):94. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-08807-9.
Long-term exercise is increasingly considered an effective strategy to counteract cognitive decline associated with aging. Previous studies have indicated that circuit training exercises integrating aerobic and resistance modalities positively affect cognitive function. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests that long-term exercise alters the gut microbiota, leading to an optimal environment for cognitive enhancement. Recent empirical evidence suggests that exercise plays a significant role in modulating aging-control factors at the protein level. Although the interaction between exercise and cognitive function is multifaceted, most studies have only examined a direct pathway from exercise to cognitive function. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the effects of long-term circuit training on cognitive function through a comprehensive analysis of factors such as gut microbiota and proteins related to aging control.
A total of fifty-one participants will be randomly assigned to either the circuit training or waitlist control group. The intervention group will participate in a circuit training program developed by Curves Japan Co., Ltd. two to three times weekly for 16 weeks. The control group will continue their usual daily routines without participating in any new active lifestyle program. The participants will undergo cognitive assessments at baseline and after the intervention. Fecal and blood samples for protein analysis will be collected before and after the intervention. The effect of exercise on cognition will be analyzed by comparing the measured outcomes before and after the intervention. The associations among these outcomes will be assessed using a linear mixed model and structural equation modeling approaches.
This study aims to provide the first insights into the comprehensive effects of exercise on cognitive function from the perspectives of gut microbiota and aging control. The findings are expected to contribute to improving brain health and combating age-related cognitive decline. Furthermore, the findings may help establish new guidelines for future studies on the relationship between exercise and cognitive function.
长期运动越来越被认为是对抗与衰老相关的认知衰退的有效策略。先前的研究表明，结合有氧和阻力训练方式的循环训练对认知功能有积极影响。此外，越来越多的证据表明，长期运动可改变肠道微生物群，为认知增强创造最佳环境。最近的实证证据表明，运动在蛋白质水平上对衰老控制因素的调节中起着重要作用。尽管运动与认知功能之间的相互作用是多方面的，但大多数研究仅考察了从运动到认知功能的直接途径。因此，本研究旨在通过综合分析肠道微生物群和与衰老控制相关的蛋白质等因素，阐明长期循环训练对认知功能的影响。
总共51名参与者将被随机分配到循环训练组或候补对照组。干预组将参加由日本曲线有限公司制定的循环训练计划，每周进行两到三次，共16周。对照组将继续其日常常规活动，不参加任何新的积极生活方式计划。参与者将在基线和干预后接受认知评估。干预前后将收集用于蛋白质分析的粪便和血液样本。通过比较干预前后测量的结果来分析运动对认知的影响。将使用线性混合模型和结构方程建模方法评估这些结果之间的关联。
本研究旨在从肠道微生物群和衰老控制的角度，首次深入了解运动对认知功能的综合影响。这些发现有望有助于改善大脑健康并对抗与年龄相关的认知衰退。此外，这些发现可能有助于为未来关于运动与认知功能关系的研究建立新的指导方针。
