TY - JOUR
T1 - Time-efficient, high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training increases cerebrovascular reactivity in midlife and older adults
AU - Freeberg, Kaitlin A.
AU - Craighead, Daniel H.
AU - Heinbockel, Thomas C.
AU - Rossman, Matthew J.
AU - Jackman, Rachel A.
AU - Jankowski, Lindsey R.
AU - Ludwig, Katelyn R.
AU - Chonchol, Michel
AU - Bailey, E. Fiona
AU - Seals, Douglas R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 the American Physiological Society.
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - Aging is associated with increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia due in part to increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cerebrovascular dysfunction. High-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) is a time-efficient, intensive respiratory training protocol (30 resisted inspirations/day) that lowers SBP and improves peripheral vascular function in midlife/older adults with above-normal SBP. However, whether, and by what mechanisms, IMST can improve cerebrovascular function is unknown. We hypothesized that IMST would increase cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia (CVR to CO2), which would coincide with changes to the plasma milieu that improve brain endothelial cell function and enhance cognitive performance (NIH Toolbox). We conducted a 6-wk double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigating high-resistance IMST [75% maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax); 6×/wk; 4 females, 5 males] vs. low-resistance sham training (15% PImax; 6×/wk; 2 females, 5 males) in midlife/older adults (age 50–79 yr) with initial above-normal SBP. Human brain endothelial cells (HBECs) were exposed to participant plasma and assessed for acetylcholine-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production. CVR to CO2 increased after high-resistance IMST (pre: 1.38±0.66 cm/s/mmHg; post: 2.31±1.02 cm/s/mmHg, P ¼ 0.020). Acetylcholine-stimulated NO production increased in HBECs exposed to plasma from after vs. before the IMST intervention [pre: 1.49±0.33; post: 1.73±0.35 arbitrary units (AU); P < 0.001]. Episodic memory increased modestly after the IMST intervention (pre: 95±13; post: 103±17 AU; P ¼ 0.045). Cerebrovascular and cognitive function were unchanged in the sham control group. High-resistance IMST may be a promising strategy to improve cerebrovascular and cognitive function in midlife/ older adults with above-normal SBP, a population at risk for future cognitive decline and dementia.
AB - Aging is associated with increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia due in part to increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cerebrovascular dysfunction. High-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) is a time-efficient, intensive respiratory training protocol (30 resisted inspirations/day) that lowers SBP and improves peripheral vascular function in midlife/older adults with above-normal SBP. However, whether, and by what mechanisms, IMST can improve cerebrovascular function is unknown. We hypothesized that IMST would increase cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia (CVR to CO2), which would coincide with changes to the plasma milieu that improve brain endothelial cell function and enhance cognitive performance (NIH Toolbox). We conducted a 6-wk double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigating high-resistance IMST [75% maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax); 6×/wk; 4 females, 5 males] vs. low-resistance sham training (15% PImax; 6×/wk; 2 females, 5 males) in midlife/older adults (age 50–79 yr) with initial above-normal SBP. Human brain endothelial cells (HBECs) were exposed to participant plasma and assessed for acetylcholine-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production. CVR to CO2 increased after high-resistance IMST (pre: 1.38±0.66 cm/s/mmHg; post: 2.31±1.02 cm/s/mmHg, P ¼ 0.020). Acetylcholine-stimulated NO production increased in HBECs exposed to plasma from after vs. before the IMST intervention [pre: 1.49±0.33; post: 1.73±0.35 arbitrary units (AU); P < 0.001]. Episodic memory increased modestly after the IMST intervention (pre: 95±13; post: 103±17 AU; P ¼ 0.045). Cerebrovascular and cognitive function were unchanged in the sham control group. High-resistance IMST may be a promising strategy to improve cerebrovascular and cognitive function in midlife/ older adults with above-normal SBP, a population at risk for future cognitive decline and dementia.
KW - cerebrovasculature
KW - cognitive function
KW - exercise training
KW - nitric oxide
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85173562603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1152/ajpheart.00351.2023
DO - 10.1152/ajpheart.00351.2023
M3 - Article
C2 - 37682232
AN - SCOPUS:85173562603
SN - 0193-1849
VL - 325
SP - H1059-H1068
JO - American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 5
ER -