Exercise training in older men and the effect on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Eight untrained healthy males aged 53–64 years performed a familiarisation session at the Exercise & Sports Science Laboratories located on the Bathurst campus. Each session was supervised by a qualified Exercise Scientist. The session included the cycling time trial which comprised a 30 s maximal effort sprint for every 4.5 min of lower intensity pace for a total of 25 min. Although the participants self-selected the gears and cadence throughout the entire 25 min, the actual time trial required them to cover as much distance as possible and be fully expended at the end of 25 min. Between 7-10 days following this, the participant returned to complete the initial self-paced time trial. The exercise training intervention followed a mixed method of training over a 12 week period which commenced 7 days following the initial self-paced time trial. and was conducted in the University resistance training gym on the Bathurst campus. Each session was supervised by a qualified exercise scientist. The first session was aerobic, the second session was strength, and the third session was mixed aerobic and strength for a total of 3 sessions per week. At the third session, participants could start with either aerobic or strength training. Aerobic exercises were performed on the cycle ergometer, treadmill or rowing machine and progressed from 15–55 min over the 12 weeks. All bouts of aerobic exercise followed the time trial protocol of 30 s maximal effort sprint for every 4.5 min of lower intensity, and targeted an intensity of > 70% peak heart rate for the lower intensity sections and > 80% peak heart rate for the sprint sections. Resistance exercises targeting the major muscle groups were performed on pulley-weight machines (chest press, seated row, lat pulldown, shoulder press, leg press, leg curl, squats and lunges). Participants progressed from 2 sets of 3 exercises to 4 sets of 8 exercises over the 12 weeks. All sets were performed at loads permitting completion of 10 repetitions, with loads increasing when 12–15 repetitions were completed on the final set. At the first mixed session, 15 min of aerobic activity and 2 sets of 3 strength exercises were performed. At the final mixed session, 27 min aerobic activity and 2 sets of 8 strength exercises were performed. All exercise sessions were fully supervised by qualified personnel who checked compliance using session checklists completed after each session. Instruction and supervision for each session for each participant was provided by the Chief Investigator with the training program undertaken within the University Bathurst campus resistance training facility. Between 3-7 days after completing the last training session, participants returned to the laboratory to complete a post training self paced cycling time trial for comparison of the pre-training trial.