The Effects of Nordic Walking With Poles With an Integrated Resistance Shock Absorber on Cognitive Abilities and Cardiopulmonary Efficiency in Postmenopausal Women.

Katarzyna Domaszewska,Maciej Wilski,Krystian Wochna,Katarzyna Marciniak,Dorota Bukowska,Urszula Czerniak,Magdalena Koper

doi:10.3389/fnagi.2020.586286

Abstract

Late adulthood is associated with atrophy of brain areas, which contribute to cognitive deterioration and increase the risk of depression. On the other hand, aerobic exercise can improve learning and memory function, ameliorate mood, and prevent neurodegenerative changes. This study demonstrates the effect of Nordic walking (NW) and NW with poles with an integrated resistance shock absorber (NW with RSA) on aerobic capacity and body composition in postmenopausal women. It also measures the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) serum levels and determines correlations with cognitive functions and depression symptoms. These relationships with the use of NW with RSA as a new form of exercise have not been described thus far. In this study, 31 women (NW – 16, NW with RSA – 15) participated in eight weeks of training. The findings showed that only NW with RSA training caused a significant decrease in body mass and body mass index (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in GDNF levels between groups studied. Regarding BDNF, a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the NW group and an increase (not statistically significant) in the NW with RSA group was found. A comparative analysis of cognitive and depression outcomes and changes in BDNF and GDNF concentration showed no significant differences in the efficacy of either form of training. Training loads resulted in a significant increase in VO2max in both the NW (p < 0.01) and NW with RSA (p < 0.05) groups. This indicates an improvement in cardiopulmonary efficiency of the examined women.

Highlights

In the aging process, a series of changes occur in the structures and systems of the human body
There was no significant difference in post-workout change in waist circumference between the two groups
Nordic walking (NW) with RSA training caused a significant decrease in body mass [p < 0.05 (ES: 0.09)] and BMI [p < 0.05 (ES: 0.10)]

Summary

Introduction

A series of changes occur in the structures and systems of the human body. Functional changes associated with atrophy of certain areas of the brain, especially the hippocampus and prefrontal and temporal cortices, can lead to age-related cognitive decline (Raz et al, 2005; Driscoll et al, 2009; Kennedy et al, 2009), risk of depression (Steffens et al, 2000; O’Shea et al, 2018; Szymkowicz et al, 2019) and neurodegenerative diseases (Wilson et al, 2002). BDNF regulates synaptogenesis and survival of adult neurons, enhances the mechanism of synaptic plasticity, thereby influencing cognition, and preventing depression and Alzheimer’s disease (Weinstein et al, 2014; Ferrer et al, 2019; Ng et al, 2019). The important contribution of GDNF in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders is reported (Chu et al, 2018)

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Discussion

Conclusion