Psycho-physiological effects of high intensity interval training and vitamin E consumption in elderly trimethyltin-treated Alzheimer's rats

Aging is associated with neurodegenerative and psychological disorders. Considering the ambiguity in the interactive effect of exercise and antioxidants, the aim of this study was to investigate the psycho-physiological effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and vitamin E (VE) in elderly trimethyltin (TMT)-treated Alzheimer's rats. In this experimental study, 50 Alzheimer's rats (age 18-22 months; weight 280-320 grams) induced by 10 mg/kg TMT were divided into five groups, including: (1) TMT, (2) sham/ vitamin E solvent, (3) VE, (4) HIIT (90-95% of the maximum speed) and (5) HIIT+VE. Ten healthy rats were included in the healthy control (HC) group to investigate the effect of TMT on research variables. HIIT was performed for eight weeks, three sessions per week, and VE was given orally to the rats at a dose of 30 mg/kg. In the HIIT and HIIT+VE groups, anthropometric indicators, food intake, anxiety and depression were significantly lower, and aerobic capacity, movement balance, and pain tolerance threshold were higher than the TMT group (P≥0.05). In the VE group, visceral fat weight, food intake, anxiety and depression were significantly lower than the TMT group (P≥0.05). Aerobic capacity was significantly higher in HIIT and HIIT+VE groups, and anxiety and depression were significantly lower than in the VE group (P≥0.05). It seems that HIIT, VE and HIIT + VE improve the weight, BMI and FW and physical and psychological performance, but the effects of HIIT on physical and psychological performance are much stronger than the effect of VE.