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Effects of interval walking training compared to normal walking training on cognitive function and arterial function in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated whether interval walking training (IWT) improves cognitive function and arterial function in older adults.

Methods

A total of 68 older adults registered in clinical trials (mean age ± standard deviation, 70 ± 4 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: one group performed IWT (n = 34), and the other performed normal walking training (NWT, n = 34). Participants in the IWT group performed five or more sets of low-intensity walking (duration: 3 min per set; peak aerobic capacity for walking: 40%) followed by high-intensity walking (duration: 3 min per set; peak aerobic capacity for walking: > 70%). The NWT group walked at approximately 50% of the peak aerobic capacity for walking. The IWT and NWT were performed for 20 weeks. Trail making test-A and B and carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) were measured in both groups at baseline and again at the end of the 20-week study period.

Results

Compared to baseline, time for trail making test-A (IWT group: P = 0.00004, NWT group: P = 0.000006) and B (IWT group: P = 0.03, NWT group: P = 0.003) as well as cfPWV (IWT group: P = 0.000002, NWT group: P = 0.03) decreased significantly after the 20-week study period in both groups. However, cfPWV in the IWT group decreased significantly more than that in the NWT group (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

These results suggested that although both IWT and NWT were similarly effective at improving cognitive function, IWT reduced central arterial stiffness more than NWT.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Shou Yoshida, Mr. Yuto Watanabe and Mr. Hiroyuki Hatakeyama for technical assistance with the experiments.

Funding

This work was supported by the Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, 7-1-1, Fukasawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 158-8508, Japan

    Takanobu Okamoto & Yuto Hashimoto

  2. Center for Fundamental Education, Teikyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan

    Ryota Kobayashi

Authors
  1. Takanobu Okamoto
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  2. Yuto Hashimoto
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  3. Ryota Kobayashi
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Correspondence to Takanobu Okamoto.

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This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Nippon Sport Science University.

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Okamoto, T., Hashimoto, Y. & Kobayashi, R. Effects of interval walking training compared to normal walking training on cognitive function and arterial function in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Aging Clin Exp Res 31, 1451–1459 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-1093-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-1093-8

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