Open AccessDrug abusers have impaired cerebral oxygenation and cognition during exercise
Author(s) -
Kell Grandjean da Costa,
Vanessa Soares Rachetti,
Weslley Quirino Alves da Silva,
Daniel A.R. Cabral,
Daniel Gomes da Silva Machado,
Eduardo Caldas Costa,
Rodrigo M. Forti,
Rickson C. Mesquita,
Hassan Mohamed Elsangedy,
Alexandre Hideki Okano,
Eduardo Bodnariuc Fontes
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0188030
Subject(s) - oxygenation , stroop effect , medicine , cognition , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , aerobic exercise , prefrontal cortex , physical exercise , anesthesia , physical therapy , cardiology , psychiatry
Background Individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) have lower baseline metabolic activity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) associated with impairment of cognitive functions in decision-making and inhibitory control. Aerobic exercise has shown to improve PFC function and cognitive performance, however, its effects on SUD individuals remain unclear. Purpose To verify the cognitive performance and oxygenation of the PFC during an incremental exercise in SUD individuals. Methods Fourteen individuals under SUD treatment performed a maximum graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer with continuous measurements of oxygen consumption, PFC oxygenation, and inhibitory control (Stroop test) every two minutes of exercise at different intensities. Fifteen non-SUD individuals performed the same protocol and were used as control group. Results Exercise increased oxyhemoglobin (O 2 Hb) and total hemoglobin (tHb) by 9% and 7%, respectively. However, when compared to a non-SUD group, this increase was lower at high intensities (p<0.001), and the inhibitory cognitive control was lower at rest and during exercise (p<0.007). In addition, PFC hemodynamics during exercise was inversely correlated with inhibitory cognitive performance (reaction time) (r = -0.62, p = 0.001), and a lower craving perception for the specific abused substance (p = 0.0189) was reported immediately after exercise. Conclusion Despite SUD individuals having their PFC cerebral oxygenation increased during exercise, they presented lower cognition and oxygenation when compared to controls, especially at elevated intensities. These results may reinforce the role of exercise as an adjuvant treatment to improve PFC function and cognitive control in individuals with SUD.