Acute effect of increased arterial stiffness with high-intensity resistance exercise on cerebral blood flow

BACKGROUND: Increased arterial stiffness decreases cerebral blood flow (CBF), which plays a vital role in the maintenance of life and cognitive function. Previous studies have shown that high-intensity resistance exercise (HRE) increases arterial stiffness. HRE may decrease cerebral blood flow. However, the effect of increased arterial stiffness associated with HRE on CBF is not fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of increased arterial stiffness with HRE on CBF. METHODS: Study participants included 8 healthy young men. All subjects performed three exercise trials in a crossover design: HRE, low-intensity resistance exercise (LRE), and aerobic exercise (AE). β-stiffness index was measured as an index of arterial stiffness, and global cerebral blood flow was measured as an index of cerebral blood flow. These were measured at rest, immediately after exercise, and 10 minutes post-exercise. RESULTS: Global cerebral blood flow was significantly increased immediately after and 10 minutes after AE. In contrast, a significant decrease of global cerebral blood flow was observed immediately after and 10 minutes following HRE. However, no changes were observed in LRE. With HRE, β-stiffness index was significantly increased immediately after and 10 minutes post-exercise. In contrast, no differences were observed in arterial stiffness associated with aerobic exercise and LRE. A negative correlation was found between global cerebral blood flow and arterial stiffness at rest and immediately after and 10 minutes post-exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that HRE increased arterial stiffness and decreased cerebral blood flow.