The rising prevalence of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, projected to affect 150 million individuals by 2050, highlights the urgent need to enhance neurocognitive health. While both aerobic and resistance training are recognized as effective strategies, their combined effects on cognition remain underexplored. This study aimed to determine if concurrent aerobic and resistance training (CT) is effective in enhancing cognitive function. Seven English and three Chinese databases were searched from inception to August 2024. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of CT on global cognition across diverse populations were included. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model in R and Stata, supplemented by subgroup and meta-regression analyses to explore variability. The meta-analysis included 35 RCTs with 5,734 participants, revealing a positive effect of CT on global cognition (g = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17–0.46, p < 0.001). Notably, older adults (≥65 years) exhibited greater cognitive benefits (g = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.14–0.51, p < 0.05) compared to younger populations. Significant effects were also observed in clinical populations (g = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.11–0.46, p < 0.001). Exercise frequency and duration positively influenced outcomes, with medium-length interventions (13–26 weeks) demonstrating significant effects (g = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.05–0.37, p = 0.011). The findings indicate that CT significantly enhances cognitive health, particularly in older adults and clinical populations. Prioritizing strength training, implementing short- to medium-term interventions (4–26 weeks), and maintaining session durations of 30–60 minutes are crucial for optimizing cognitive benefits.

Zhang, M, Chen, L, Dai, J, Yang, Q, Huang, Z, He, J, Ji, H, Sun, J, and Li, D. Application of a new monitoring variable: Effects of power loss during squat training on strength gains and sports performance. J Strength Cond Res 38(4): 656–670, 2024—This study aimed to compare the effects of power loss (PL) autoregulated volume (PL10 and PL20) with standardized fixed-load (FL) prescription on strength, sports performance, and lean body mass (LBM). Thirty-five female basketball players from a sports college were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups (PL10, n = 12; PL20, n = 12; and FL, n = 11, respectively) that performed a resistance training (RT) program with wave-like periodization for 10 weeks using the back squat exercise. Assessments performed before (Pre) and after (Post) intervention included assessed 1 repetition maximum (1RM), body composition, 20-m sprint (T20M), change of direction (COD), and jump performance, including countermovement jump with arm swing, maximum vertical jump, and reactive strength index. Three groups showed significant improvements in strength (effect size [ES]: PL10 = 2.98, PL20 = 3.14, and FL = 1.90; p < 0.001) and jump performance (ES: PL10 = 0.74, PL20 = 1.50, and FL = 0.50; p <0.05–0.001). However, PL10 and PL20 demonstrated different advantages in sports performance compared with FL (group × time interaction, p <0.05). Specifically, PL10 significantly improved COD performance (ES = −0.79 ∼ −0.53, p <0.01), whereas PL20 showed greater improvements in sprint (ES = −0.57, p <0.05) and jump performance (ES = 0.67–1.64, p <0.01–0.001). Moreover, PL10 resulted in similar gains to PL20 and beneficial improvements compared with FL in LBM, despite performing the least repetitions. Overall, the study indicates that power loss–based autoregulation induces greater gains in LBM and sports performance, as well as eliciting a higher efficiency dose response than standardized FL prescriptions, particularly for PL10. Therefore, incorporating PL monitoring in training programs is recommended, and further studies on power-based RT would be worthwhile.

The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of velocity-based resistance training (VBRT) and percentage-based resistance training (PBRT) on anaerobic ability, sprint performance, and jumping ability. Eighteen female basketball players from a Sport College were randomly divided into two groups: VBRT (n = 10) and PBRT (n = 8). The six-week intervention consisted of two sessions per week of free-weight back squats with linear periodization from 65% to 95%1RM. In PBRT, the weights lifted were fixed based on 1RM percentage, while in VBRT, the weights were adjusted based on individualized velocity profiles. The T-30m sprint time, relative power of countermovement jump (RP-CMJ), and Wingate test were evaluated. The Wingate test assessed peak power (PP), mean power (MP), fatigue index (FI), maximal velocity (Vmax), and total work (TW). Results showed that VBRT produced a very likely improvement in RP-CMJ, Vmax, PP, and FI (Hedges’ g = 0.55, 0.93, 0.68, 0.53, respectively, p < 0.01). On the other hand, PBRT produced a very likely improvement in MP (Hedges’ g = 0.38) and TW (Hedges’ g = 0.45). Although VBRT showed likely favorable effects in RP-CMJ, PP, and Vmax compared to PBRT (p < 0.05 for interaction effect), PBRT produced greater improvements in MP and TW (p < 0.05 for interaction effect). In conclusion, PBRT may be more effective in maintaining high-power velocity endurance, while VBRT has a greater impact on explosive power adaptations.

Aerobic and resistance exercises are widely recognized as essential for preserving and enhancing cognitive function. However, the effects of concurrent exercise on cognition in older adults remain unclear. This systematic review sought to evaluate the regular effects of concurrent aerobic and resistance training on global cognition in healthy older adults. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and CNKI up to July 2024. Randomized controlled trials involving healthy older adults aged ≥65 years that assessed the cognitive effects of concurrent exercise were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was quantified with the I² statistic. The initial search identified 13,533 records, ultimately including 12 studies in the meta-analysis, which involved 2557 participants. The meta-analysis revealed non-significant effects of concurrent exercise on global cognition (SMD = 0.12, 95 % CI: -0.08 to 0.33, p = 0.200). The subgroup analysis indicated that concurrent exercise cannot enhance global cognition compared to active controls (SMD = -0.03, 95 % CI: -0.23 to 0.18, p = 0.80), but it does show significant improvement compared to passive controls (SMD = 0.35, 95 % CI: 0.14 to 0.56, p < 0.001). Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I² = 49.9 %), and sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of the results. No significant publication bias was identified. While concurrent exercise was effective in improving global cognition in healthy older adults, the improvements were not superior to active control conditions. Future research should investigate optimal training combinations and sequences to maximize cognitive benefits.

Due to the character of the taekwondo, the adenosine triphosphate–phosphocreatine system provides the energy for each kick, the glycolytic system supports the repeated execution of kicks, and the aerobic system promotes recovery between these movements and the bout. Therefore, taekwondo athletes require high explosive power and anaerobic capacity in order to carry out sustained and powerful attacks. So, the purpose of this study is to compare the effects of APRE and VBRT on lower-limb explosive power and anaerobic capacity in college taekwondo players. A total of 30 taekwondo players completed an 8-week training intervention with autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise (APRE; n = 15) and velocity-based resistance training (VBRT; n = 15). Testing included the one-repetition maximum squat, countermovement jump (CMJ), taekwondo anaerobic intermittent kick test (TAIKT), and 30-s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). (1) Intragroup comparisons revealed significant effects for one-repetition maximum squat, peak power of CMJ (CMJ_PP), relative peak power of CMJ (CMJ_RPP), and total number of TAIKT (TAIKT_TN) in both the APRE and VBRT groups. The VBRT group exhibited small effect sizes for time at peak power of WAnT (WAnT_PPT) and moderate effect sizes for peak power of WAnT (WAnT_PP), relative peak power of WAnT (WAnT_RPP), and fatigue index of TAIKT (TAIKT_FI), whereas the APRE group exhibited small effect sizes for TAIKT_FI. (2) Intergroup comparisons revealed no significant effects in any of the results. However, VBRT demonstrated a moderate advantage in WAnT_PP and WAnT_RPP, whereas APRE had a small advantage in CMJ_PP and CMJ_RPP. These findings suggest that APRE improved explosive power (CMJ_PP and CMJ_RPP) more, whereas VBRT improved anaerobic power output (WAnT_PP and WAnT_RPP) more. Both methods were found to have similar effects in improving the anaerobic endurance (WAnT_PPT and TAIKT_TN) and fatigue index (power drop of WAnT and TAIKT_FI).