title: The effects of a 16-week aerobic exercise programme on cognitive function in people living with HIV.
abstract: High levels of cardiovascular fitness and physical activity are associated with higher levels of cognitive function in people with HIV, thus, they may reduce the risk of developing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 16-week aerobic exercise intervention on cognitive function in people with HIV. Eleven participants living with HIV were recruited into the study. Participants were randomised into either an exercise group (n = 5), that completed a 16-week aerobic exercise programme training, 3 times per week (2 supervised sessions and one unsupervised session) or a control group (n = 6) that received no intervention. Outcomes measured included cognitive function (Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA) and the Trail making tests A and B), aerobic fitness (modified Bruce protocol), sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index; PSQI) and physical activity levels (seven-day accelerometry). At baseline, higher levels of moderate physical activity were positively correlated with higher MOCA scores and levels of aerobic fitness were negatively associated with Trail A scores (P = 0.04 and P = 0.001 respectively). However, exercise training did not induce any significant improvements in cognitive function or aerobic fitness. The overall mean adherence rate to the exercise programme was 60%. In conclusion, in the present study a 16-week aerobic exercise intervention did not affect the cognitive function of participants with HIV. It is likely that longer intervention periods and/or higher adherence rates to exercise might be needed for an aerobic exercise programme to be effective in improving cognitive function in a cohort with no baseline cognitive impairments.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology, School of Medicine , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology , St. James' Hospital , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zaporojan
authors.affiliation: c Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.affiliation: c Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Colin P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology , St. James' Hospital , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.affiliation: d Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Cuisle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.affiliation: d Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gormley
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology, School of Medicine , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egaña
authors.affiliation: e Department of Infectious Diseases , St. James' Hospital , Dublin , Ireland.|f School of Medicine , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Colm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergin
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Aerobic exercise; HIV/AIDS; cognition; physical activity