High-intensity interval training improves hippocampal function and reduces age-related brain shrinkage in older adults, supporting cognitive abilities better than other exercise regimens.
The brain’s hippocampus is vital for memory and learning but tends to shrink with age, contributing to cognitive decline. A recent study found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves hippocampal-dependent cognitive abilities in older adults better than other forms of exercise.
Researchers randomly assigned 151 healthy adults aged 65 to 85 to one of three exercise regimens: low-intensity training, medium-intensity training, or HIIT. Over six months, participants attended 72 supervised sessions, underwent monthly cognitive testing, and provided blood samples. The researchers assessed the participants' brain volumes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans at various time points, with follow-ups continuing for five years.
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They found that the HIIT group experienced marked improvements in hippocampal function. HIIT also reduced age-related brain volume loss, particularly in the hippocampus, and strengthened the connections between critical brain networks. The HIIT group’s cognitive improvements were associated with higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor—a growth factor that supports brain function—and cortisol.
These findings suggest that HIIT protects against age-related cognitive decline and highlights its potential to preserve brain health in older adults. Learn more about the brain benefits of HIIT in this episode featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.