Obesity, caused by a high-fat diet (HFD) in elderly, is a risk factor for
insulin resistance and a precursor to diabetes and can lead to impaired cognitive function. Physical exercise has positive effects on decrease
obesity and improvement brain function. We investigated which type of aerobic (AE) or resistance (RE) exercise can be more effective in reducing HFD-induced
cognitive dysfunction in obese elderly rats. 48 male Wistar rats (19-monthold) were divided into six groups: Healthy control (CON), CON+AE, CON+RE, HFD, HFD+AE, and HFD+RE.
Obesity was induced by 5 months of HFD feeding in older rats. After
obesity confirmation, RT (with a range of 50% to 100%1RM/3 days/week) and AE (running at 8-m/min for 15-min to 26-m/min for 60-min /5 days/week) was performed for 12-weeks. Morris water maze Test was used to evaluate cognitive performance. All data were analyzed using two-way statistical test of variance. The results showed that
obesity had a negative effect on glycemic index, increased
inflammation, decreased
antioxidant levels, decreased
BDNF/TrkB and decreased nerve density in hippocampal tissue. The Morris water maze results clearly showed
cognitive impairment in the
obesity group. But 12 weeks after AE and RE, all the measured variables were on the improvement path, and in general, no difference was observed between the two exercise methods. Two
mods of exercise (AE and RE) may be having same effects on nerve cell density, inflammatory,
antioxidant and functional status of hippocampus of obese rats. Each of the AE and RE can create beneficial effects on the cognitive function of the elderly.