Acute Effects of High-Velocity Interval Cycling Versus Continuous Moderate-Intensity Cycling on Cognitive Function in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

TL;DR

High-speed cycling sessions can temporarily boost cognitive abilities in people with mild cognitive impairment more effectively than moderate cycling.

Contribution

This study shows high-velocity interval cycling improves cognition in MCI patients with less effort than continuous cycling.

Findings

High-velocity interval cycling improved global cognition and executive functions in MCI patients.

Both cycling types improved cognition, but high-velocity cycling did so with lower cardiovascular strain.

Processing speed and psychomotor vigilance were not significantly affected by either exercise.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
A single session of high-velocity, low-resistance interval cycling acutely improved global cognition, executive functions, and semantic fluency in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Both high-velocity interval cycling and continuous aerobic cycling elicited cognitive benefits, whereas effects on processing speed and psychomotor vigilance were limited.

A single session of high-velocity, low-resistance interval cycling acutely improved global cognition, executive functions, and semantic fluency in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Both high-velocity interval cycling and continuous aerobic cycling elicited cognitive benefits, whereas effects on processing speed and psychomotor vigilance were limited.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Acute aerobic exercise may serve as a feasible non-pharmacological strategy to transiently enhance cognitive performance in MCI.High-velocity interval cycling induced comparable cognitive benefits with lower cardiovascular load and perceived exertion.

Acute aerobic exercise may serve as a feasible non-pharmacological strategy to transiently enhance cognitive performance in MCI.

High-velocity interval cycling induced comparable cognitive benefits with lower cardiovascular load and perceived exertion.

Background/Objectives: Physical exercise has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for cognitive dysfunction; however, the most effective mode of exercise remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of two cycling exercise protocols, (a) continuous aerobic/moderate-intensity (CA) and (b) high-velocity/low-resistance (high-cadence) interval (HVI), on cognitive and executive performance in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Seventeen patients (10 females and 7 males, age: 65.5 ± 8.85 years) diagnosed with MCI or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (13 MCI and 4 eAD) participated in a random order in three different conditions: CA, HVI, and control/no exercise (CON). Cognitive parameters were assessed acutely before and after the completion of each condition. Results: Significant condition × time interactions were observed for both Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) (p < 0.01). Higher scores (p < 0.01) for MoCA and FAB post-intervention were found compared to baseline in both exercise bouts, whereas no changes occurred in CON. Interestingly, when post-intervention scores were compared between conditions, cognitive performance was improved only in HVΙ compared to CON in MoCA (p < 0.01) and FAB (p < 0.001), revealing a stronger acute effect of HVI. Conclusions: A single bout of high-velocity, low-resistance (high-cadence) interval cycling acutely enhanced global cognition and executive function in individuals with MCI, exerting greater improvement compared to continuous aerobic exercise or control condition. These findings emphasize the potential utilization of HVI as an effective non-pharmacological intervention to acutely enhance cognitive performance in older adults with MCI.

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