An exploratory randomized sub-study of light-to-moderate intensity exercise on cognitive function, depression symptoms and inflammation in older adults with heart failure.


Author: Redwine LS1, Pung MA2, Wilson K3, Bangen KJ4, Delano-Wood L4, Hurwitz B5

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address: lredwine@usf.edu.

<sup>2</sup>Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.

<sup>3</sup>Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.

<sup>4</sup>Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.

<sup>5</sup>Psychology Department, University of Miami, USA.
Conference/Journal: J Psychosom Res.
Date published: 2019 Nov 26
Other:
 Volume ID: 128   ,  Pages: 109883   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109883. [Epub ahead of print]   ,  Word Count: 231  
    OBJECTIVE: Almost half of patients with heart failure (HF) have cognitive impairment. While exercise relates to better cognitive health, a hallmark of HF is exercise intolerance. The study objective was to explore whether light-to-moderate exercise improves cognitive function in patients with HF.



METHODS: This was an exploratory parallel design study of 69 patients with symptomatic HF (mean age = 65, SD = 10), recruited from VA and University of California, San Diego Healthcare Systems. Participants were randomized to Tai Chi (TC) (n = 24), resistance band (RB) exercise (n = 22) or treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 23). The primary outcome was change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. We further explored if changes in Beck Depression Inventory - IA (BDI-IA) scores or inflammation biomarkers, CRP, TNFα and IL-6 related to altered cognitive function.



RESULTS: There was a fixed effect of group for MoCA scores changes (F = 8.07, p = .001). TC and RB groups had greater MoCA score increases versus TAU, but no differences were found between TC and RB. Depression symptom changes predicted altered MoCA scores (ΔR2 = 0.15, Β = -0.413, p = .001). However, group did not interact with depression symptom levels for MoCA alterations (p = .392). Changes in CRP levels predicted MoCA scores (ΔR2 = 0.078, Β = -0.283, p = .01), but group did not interact with CRP levels for MoCA alterations (p = .689).



CONCLUSIONS: Light-to-moderate exercises, TC and RB may improve cognitive function. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01625819.



Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.



PMID: 31786338  DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109883