An Intense, But Ecologically Valid, Resistance Exercise Session Does Not Alter Growth Factors Associated With Cognitive Health

in Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

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Kieran J. Marston
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Belinda M. Brown
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Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith
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Sabine Bird
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Linda K. Wijaya
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Shaun Y. M. Teo
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Ralph N. Martins
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Jeremiah J. Peiffer
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2019-0100
Keywords:
cognitive decline; healthy aging; neurotrophic factors; strength training
First Published Online:
22 Jan 2020
In Print:
Volume 28: Issue 4
Page Range:
605–612
Restricted access

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the acute changes in growth factors associated with cognitive health following two ecologically valid, intense resistance exercise sessions. Twenty-nine late-middle-aged adults performed one session of either (a) moderate-load resistance exercise or (b) high-load resistance exercise. Venous blood was collected prior to warm-up, immediately following exercise and 30 min following exercise. Serum was analyzed for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Session intensity was determined by blood lactate concentration and session rating of perceived exertion. Postexercise blood lactate was greater following moderate-load when compared with high-load resistance exercise. Subjective session intensity was rated higher by the session rating of perceived exertion following moderate-load when compared with high-load resistance exercise. No differences were observed in serum growth factor levels between groups. Ecologically valid and intense moderate-load or high-load exercise methods do not alter serum growth factor levels in late-middle-aged adults.

Marston, Brown, Teo, and Peiffer are with the Department of Exercise Science, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Marston, Brown, Rainey-Smith, and Peiffer are with Ageing, Cognition and Exercise (ACE) Research Group, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Brown, Rainey-Smith, Bird, and Martins are also with the Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia. Brown, Rainey-Smith, Bird, and Martins are with the Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia. Wijaya is with the Department of Psychology, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Marston (K.Marston@murdoch.edu.au) is corresponding author.
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