A single bout of exercise can rapidly improve cognitive functions including memory, attention, and executive functions, which help us navigate through everyday life. However, we do not fully understand the mechanism behind this process. A promising candidate mechanism is lactate, which was previously considered merely a waste product of our muscles during exercise. It is now recognized as an important molecule that is used by the brain as an energy source. Studies have shown that increases in lactate during exercise are positively related to improved cognitive function after completion of exercise. Another potential mechanism involves the increase in neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) following exercise. The increase in lactate and BDNF during exercise may be connected to cause these cognitive improvements. However, because lactate increases with higher exercise intensities, we currently do not know how lactate specifically impacts brain health. To address this, muscle and blood lactate concentrations can be experimentally manipulated during exercise using sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation and will allow us to explore how lactate specifically affects brain function. The purpose of this project is to investigate the effect of exercise-induced lactate on BDNF and cognition following oral NaHCO3 supplementation in young adults. We hypothesize that BDNF levels will be higher, and cognition will be improved in executive function, visuospatial memory, and working memory in the NaHCO3 condition due to higher plasma lactate during exercise compared to placebo.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
32
Ingestion of gelatin capsules containing 0.4 g/kg body weight of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) followed by 90 minutes of rest. Continuous high intensity cycling to be performed following 90-minute resting measures.
Ingestion of gelatin capsules containing 0.4 g/kg body weight of sodium chloride (NaCl) followed by 90 minutes of rest. Continuous high intensity cycling to be performed following 90-minute resting measures.
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Cognitive Function (Executive Function)
The Stroop Task will be used to measure executive function (selective attention and inhibitory control).
Time frame: 3-hour
Cognitive Function (Working Memory)
The N-Back Test will be used to assess working memory.
Time frame: 3-hour
Cognitive Function (Visuospatial Memory)
The Spatial Span Test will be used to assess visuospatial memory.
Time frame: 3-hour
Blood Lactate
Venous blood samples will be obtained via intravenous catheter.
Time frame: 3-hour
Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3)
Venous blood samples will be obtained via intravenous catheter.
Time frame: 3-hour
Blood pH
Venous blood samples will be obtained via intravenous catheter.
Time frame: 3-hour
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Serum and plasma BDNF measured in venous blood samples will be obtained via intravenous catheter.
Time frame: 3-hour
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