Four Weeks of Detraining Induced by COVID-19 Reverse Cardiac Improvements from Eight Weeks of Fitness-Dance Training in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Physical training is considered as a low-cost intervention to generate cardioprotective benefits and to promote physical and mental health, while reducing the severity of acute respiratory infection symptoms in older adults. However, lockdown measures during COVID-19 have limited people’s opportunity to exercise regularly. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of Fitness and Dance training, followed by four weeks of COVID-19-induced detraining, on cardiac adaptations and physical performance indicators in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Twelve older adults (6 males and 6 females) with MCI (age, 73 ± 4.4 y; body mass, 75.3 ± 6.4 kg; height, 172 ± 8 cm; MMSE score: 24–27) participated in eight weeks of a combined Fitness-Dance training intervention (two sessions/week) followed by four weeks of training cessation induced by COVID-19 lockdowns. Wireless Polar Team Pro and Polar heart rate sensors (H10) were used to monitor covered distance, speed, heart rate (HR min, avg and max), time in HR zone 1 to 5, strenuousness (load score), beat-to-beat interval (max RR and avg RR) and heart rate variability (HRV-RMSSD). One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data of the three test sessions (T1: first training session, T2: last training session of the eight-week training program, and T3: first training session after the four-week training cessation). Statistical analysis showed that eight weeks of combined Fitness-Dance training induced beneficial cardiac adaptations by decreasing HR (HR min, HR avg and HR max) with p < 0.001, ES = 0.5–0.6 and Δ = −7 to−9 bpm, and increasing HRV related responses (max and avg RR and RMSSD), with p < 0.01 and ES = 0.4. Consequently, participants spent more time in comfortable HR zones (e.g., p < 0.0005; ES = 0.7; Δ = 25% for HR zone 1) and showed reduced strenuousness (p = 0.02, Δ = −15% for load score), despite the higher covered total distance and average speed (p < 0.01; ES = 0.4). However, these changes were reversed after only four weeks of COVID-19 induced detraining, with values of all parameters returning to their baseline levels. In conclusion, eight weeks of combined Fitness-Dance training seems to be an efficient strategy to promote cardioprotective benefits in older adults with MCI. Importantly, to maintain these health benefits, training has to be continued and detraining periods should be reduced. During a pandemic, home-based exercise programs may provide an effective and efficient alternative of physical training.

Effects of Different Exercise Interventions on Cardiac Autonomic Control and Secondary Health Factors in Middle-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review

“…Finally, assessing changes in cardiac autonomic control with coordinative training demands accurate control of the training load. Therefore, we suggest to control and monitor the training load during sessions by measuring the heart rate [74], which has not been done in these studies [56,60].…”

New Recovery Strategies in Motor and Cognitive Functions, before, during and after Home-Confinement COVID-19, for Healthy Adults and Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases: Review

“…In addition to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, there are other risk factors that can aggravate and accelerate their evolution, such as lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, weight gain/obesity or the association of other comorbidities (diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension). All these impediments to lifestyle, physical activity, eating habits, interpersonal communication and access to public health services were present during the periods of home regimentation imposed by the fight against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) [19].…”

“…Other variables reflect declining physical activity during lockdown, such as Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), Physical Activity Level (PALs) [19,32], Physical Activity Scale for the elderly (PASE), Physical Activity Level (PALs), Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), Physical Activity Scale for the elderly (PASE) [13,32] and Metabolic equivalents minutes/week (MET) [33].…”

“…Other tools can assess signs and symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases related to motor and cognitive dysfunctions well as their changes during the period of social isolation imposed by the spread of SARS infection-Cov-2: for Alzheimer' Disease; these include the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-Plus) [19], the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) [34], Hamilton Depression Rating (HAMD), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Activities Daily Living (ADL) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) [35].…”

“…So, for 12 older adults of which six women and six men, with mild cognitive impairment, each carrying a polar heart sensor network, and for 8 weeks participated in a fitness and dance training program (two sessions of 90 min/week) delivered through the DIADEM platform, demonstrated improved cardiac performance, benefits in mental functions and enhanced motor status with better walking speed and step length. Monitoring was performed by heart rate recordings and by using the following instruments: MMSE, PAR-Q, GDS and CERAD-Plus [19]. During the pandemic lockdown, such interventions can efficiently compensate for the detraining due to combating the spread of coronavirus disease, while maintaining adequate muscle tone and motor skills.…”