Impact of different exercise types on brain morphology

Background / Objective The study aimed to investigate the impact of different types of exercise on brain morphology in healthy males. Specifically, two exercise groups were compared with a control group over a 12-week period, focusing on High Intensity Resistance Training (HIRT) and Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training. Methods Seventeen participants underwent 12 weeks of HIRT, while 18 participants underwent BFR training. Fifteen males comprised the control group. Brain MRIs were conducted before and after the training period. Brain volumetric changes were analyzed using Freesurfer 7.4.1 software, and white matter integrity was assessed through DTI using ExploreDTI software. Results Significant volumetric changes were observed in the HIRT group post-training compared to the control group, with specific regions including the left hippocampal head, body, and surrounding areas showing notable changes (p<0.05). In contrast, the BFR group did not exhibit significant volumetric changes post-training. Regarding white matter integrity, the HIRT group demonstrated a significant difference in the FA value of the whole brain (p<0.05), particularly in the hippocampal regions. The BFR group did not show a similar significant change in FA values. Conclusions The findings suggest that High Intensity Resistance Training has a significant impact on brain morphology, particularly in the hippocampal regions and overall brain volume. In contrast, Blood Flow Restriction training did not result in significant changes in brain morphology post-training. Further research is warranted to delve deeper into the observed differences and understand the underlying mechanisms driving these effects.