One year aerobic exercise improved fitness, cognition, reduced arterial stiffness and brain vascular reactivity to CO2 in amnestic MCI

Motivation: The benefits of long-term aerobic exercise (AE) on brain function in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients is not fully understood. Goal(s): This study assesses long-term benefits of AE on cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in aMCI in relation to cognition, cardiorespiratory fitness and carotid arterial stiffness. Approach: 27 aMCI patients were assigned randomly to either AE or stretching and toning (ST) groups. CVR MRI, cardiorespiratory fitness, cognition, carotid arterial stiffness using ultrasound were measured before and one-year after AE or ST intervention. Results: One-year intervention improved fitness and cognition, decreased arterial stiffness and CVR in the AE group, not different in the ST group. Impact: Long-term aerobic exercise (AE) intervention in amnestic MCI patients improved cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition, reduced arterial stiffness and cerebrovascular reactivity(CVR), suggesting that long-term AE improves cognition and vasculature; CVR reduction is suggestive of vascular adaptations to long-term AE.