title: Effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia on aerobic capacity and cognitive function in older people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical exercise, especially aerobic training, improves physical performance and cognitive function of older people. Furthermore, it has been speculated that age-associated deteriorations in physical performance and cognitive function could be counteracted through exposures to passive intermittent normobaric hypoxia (IH). Thus, the present investigation aimed at investigating the effect of passive IH combined with subsequent aerobic training on hematological parameters and aerobic physical performance (V˙O2max) as well as peripheral levels of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cognitive function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial in a repeated measure design.
  
  
  METHODS
  34 older participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or control group (CG). While IG was supplied with passive IH for 90min, CG breathed ambient air. Subsequently, both groups underwent 30min of aerobic training three times per week for four consecutive weeks. Aerobic physical performance and cognitive function was tested with spiroergometry and the Stroop test. Blood samples were taken to measure hematological parameters and the peripheral serum BDNF-level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found increases in the values of hematological parameters, the time to exhaustion in the load test and an augmented and sustainable improvement in cognitive function within the IG of the older people only. However, in both groups, the V˙O2maxand serum BDNF-level did not increase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these results, hypoxic training seems to be beneficial to enhance hematological parameters, physical performance and cognitive function in older people. The current hypoxic-dose was not able to enhance the serum BDNF-level or V˙O2max.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schega
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany; Center of Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Germany.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brigadski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany; Center of Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Germany.
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leßmann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Berend
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Isermann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamacher
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: alexander.toerpel@ovgu.de.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Törpel
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D057190:Stroop Test
keywords: Altitude; BDNF; Cognition; Elderly; Hematology