Exercise-induced release of irisin may mediate the beneficial effects of exercise on cognition. Although exercise induces a short-term transient acute increase in circulating irisin, a longer-term adaptative improvement in basal irisin concentrations may also be possible in older adults. Whether an increase in basal and acute irisin is a mechanism that underpins training-induced cognitive gains in older people is unclear and warrants investigation. Thirty healthy adults aged >65 years were recruited into a 12-week single-arm exercise trial. Twenty-four subjects completed 12 weeks of progressive resistance training, 3 times per week, at 80% 1-repetition maximum, with a convenience sample of 6 subjects continuing normal activity as a reference group. Body composition, cognition measures, and circulating irisin concentrations were collected pre- and post-training intervention. Circulating irisin concentrations were sampled pre- and 0, 30, and 60 minutes postresistance exercise at the first and final exercise session. Twelve weeks of resistance training did not increase basal irisin concentrations and seemed to attenuate response. Peak irisin concentrations increased only after a single bout of resistance exercise before 12 weeks training (1.8 ± 3.6 ng·ml−1, p < 0.001). Verbal fluency improved (1.0 ± 1.7 points, p = 0.007) after resistance training, while memory change correlated with pretraining basal and posttraining peak irisin levels (r < 0.423, p < 0.040). These findings implicate regular doses of irisin in response to exercise, but not longer-term basal improvement, as the most important outcome of exercise training in healthy older adults. However, attenuation of acute irisin over the training period suggests that the ability of irisin to influence brain health may decline as training progresses.
- The Effect of Progressive Resistance Training on Irisin and Cognition in Healthy Older Adults
- James E Newman (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastIsabel N King - University of the Sunshine CoastNicole B Flemming - University of the Sunshine CoastRobert Buhmann - University of the Sunshine CoastGrace L Rose - University of the Sunshine CoastKathryn M Broadhouse - University of the Sunshine CoastDavid G Jenkins - University of the Sunshine CoastChristopher D Askew - University of the Sunshine CoastMia A Schaumberg - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Vol.Advanced access(9)
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005477
- 1533-4287
- 42507593
- All authors agree to make data used within this article available, on request.
- Understanding the acute myokine response to resistance exercise in older adults for longevity and disease prevention., 0980027690, University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
- School of Health - Biomedicine; Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health - Nursing; School of Education and Tertiary Access; Cancer Research Cluster; School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science
- English
- 991247285702621
- Journal article