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Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(01): 54-60
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1375693
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Resistance Training Does not have an Effect on Cognition or Related Serum Biomarkers in Nonagenarians: A Randomized Controlled Trial

J. R. Ruiz
1   PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity research group (PROFITH), Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
,
F. Gil-Bea
2   Department of Cellular and Molecular Neuropharmacology, Center for Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain
,
N. Bustamante-Ara
3   Biomedicine, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
,
G. Rodríguez-Romo
4   INEF, Universidad Politécnica, Madrid, Spain
,
C. Fiuza-Luces
3   Biomedicine, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
,
J. A. Serra-Rexach
5   Geriatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
,
A. Cedazo-Minguez
6   Karolinska Institutet, KI-Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Huddinge, Sweden
,
A. Lucia
7   Physiology, Universidad Europea De Madrid, Madrid, Spain
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 07 April 2014

Publication Date:
20 October 2014 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effects of 8-week exercise-intervention on cognition and related serum biochemical markers in nonagenarians. We also studied the effects of a 4-week training cessation (‘detraining’) period on our study variables. Participants were randomly allocated to a standard-care (control) or intervention (exercise) group [n=20 (16 women)/group]. The intervention focused on supervised, light-to-moderate-intensity aerobic and resistance exercises (mainly leg press), and included 3 weekly sessions. Cognitive status was determined by the mini-mental state examination and geriatric depression scale. We analysed proteins with reported relation with mechanisms behind cognition changes such as serum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme, amyloid-precursor protein, epidermal growth factor, brain-derived neural factor and tumor necrosis factor. No significant change (P>0.05) in any of the variables studied was found following the exercise intervention compared with the standard-care group. Similarly, no significant changes (P>0.05) were observed following the detraining period compared with the standard-care group. Overall changes after the exercise intervention in serum biomarkers were not associated with changes in functional capacity and cognitive measures. An 8-week exercise intervention focusing on resistance exercises neither benefits cognitive function nor affects the levels of the serum proteins analysed in nonagenarians.

Key words

physical activity - cognitive decline - cognitive function - mini-mental state examination - elderly
 

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