Blood Flow Restriction and High-intense Resistance Training in Aging: Interactions Between Neuroplasticity and Muscle

Lithuanian Sports University60 enrolled

Overview

BRAIN-M is a randomized controlled trial designed to examine the effects of a single bout or 12 weeks of blood-flow restriction training or high-intensity resistance training on cognitive function, brain health, muscular properties and physical performance in healthy older men 60-75 years old.

The BRAIN-M project is driven by the idea that understanding the mechanisms through which muscle and brain interact could offer new approaches to magnifying the beneficial and detrimental effects of exercise training on health at older age. Specifically, the investigators aim at identifying brain, blood, and muscle biomarkers that could serve as predictors of response to exercise training at either cognitive, brain, muscle or physical performance levels and study the associations between biomarkers in order to suggest a physiological model of brain-muscle and muscle-brain crosstalk in ageing. 60 male older adults (60-75y old) will be included in either 12 weeks of high-intense blood-flow restriction training (n = 20), muscle damaging resistance training (n = 20) or no exercise (n = 20). The control group will be asked to maintain their usual lifestyle.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Aging Cognitive Decline

Interventions

BFRTBEHAVIORAL

Following a warm-up of 10 min, subjects in the experimental group will undergo BFRT for two times per week, consisting of lower extremity exercises (leg press, knee extension, knee flexion). BFRT will be at 40% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM); The volume % (V% = number of repetitions x number of sets x number of exercises x % 1 repetition max) = 57.6%. Progression during the 12 week program will be attained by a 1RM test every 4 weeks.

MDRTBEHAVIORAL

Following a warm-up of 10 min, subjects in the experimental group will undergo MDRT for two times per week, consisting of lower extremity exercises (leg press, knee extension, knee flexion). The exercise will be at 80% of 1RM concentric-only or 120% of 1RM eccentric-only in a 3:1 ratio. The volume % (V% = number of repetitions x number of sets x number of exercises x % 1 repetition max) = 57.6%. Progression during the 12 week program will be attained by a 1RM test every 4 weeks.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 60 YearsMax age: 75 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * healthy male older adults * able to speak and read fluent Lithuanian * living in community during the study Exclusion Criteria: * cognitive and neurological disorders (e.g. dementia, stroke, Parkinson, multiple sclerosis) * previous lower extremity injury * diabetes mellitus type I or II * no oncologic disease * no bone fractures in the previous year * deep vein thrombosis * cardiovascular disorders (e.g. congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, uncontrolled arrhythmia, history of myocardial infarction or coronary bypass grafting in the past year) * obesity (BMI \>30kg/m²) * chronic fatigue, chronic headache, or chronic dizziness * ineligibility to MRI scanning (e.g. due to claustrofobia or metal implants) * The participants should not be engaged in any regular exercise programme during the previous 6 months (according to IPAQ), but able to perform 10 sit-ups * Any other consideration that interferes with the study aims and/or risk to the participant, at the discretion of the researcher

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in cognitive function on the Switching task (executive function)

The switching task is a complex task where subjects need to switch (executive function) between a manikin task (visuospatial skill, attention and problem solving) and a mathematical computation task (mathematical computation skill, concentration and working memory).

Time frame: Before first exercise bout, immediately after first exercise bout, 1 hour after the first exercise bout and after the 12 week intervention period

Secondary Outcomes

Change in cognitive function on the 2-Choice Reaction time (processing speed), Go/No-Go (inhibition) or 6 letter Memory Search (memory) test

Cognitive functioning will be assessed with the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics 4 (ANAM4) cognitive test battery, testing several cognitive domains.

Time frame: Before first exercise bout, immediately after first exercise bout, 1 hour after the first exercise bout and after the 12 week intervention period

Changes in lactate levels

Capillary lactate levels will be measured in the acute exercise test.

Time frame: Before first exercise bout, immediately after first exercise bout, 1 hour after the first exercise bout

Changes in blood serum levels of TNFalpha and syndecan

We will use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure acute changes in TNFalpha, and syndecan before and after the first exercise bout.

Time frame: Before first exercise bout, immediately after first exercise bout, 1 hour after the first exercise bout

Changes in blood plasma levels of BDNF

We will use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure acute and chronic changes in BDNF before and after the first exercise bout; and after 12 weeks intervention

Time frame: Before first exercise bout, immediately after first exercise bout, 1 hour after the first exercise bout and after the 12 week intervention period

Changes in blood serum levels of IGF-1, IL-6 and kynurenine

We will use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure chronic changes in IGF-1, IL-6 and kynurenine before and after 12 weeks intervention