Aerobic exercise elicited larger increases in carotid pulsatility index (∆+1.80 vs ∆+0.95 au, p=0.014) and pulse pressure compared to resistance exercise, while intracranial responses were similar.
Does aerobic exercise elicit different acute cerebrovascular hemodynamic responses compared to resistance exercise in young healthy adults?
Aerobic exercise elicits greater extracranial pulsatile hemodynamics and pulsatile damping than resistance exercise, though intracranial hemodynamic responses remain similar, suggesting both provide beneficial cerebrovascular stimuli.
Absolute Event Rate: 1.8% vs 0.95%
p-value: p=0.014
INTRODUCTION: Aerobic and resistance exercise are associated with benefits to brain health, in part from the positive influence of exercise on cerebrovascular hemodynamics. Examining the acute hemodynamic responses during aerobic versus resistance exercise may provide important insight into their differing hemodynamic stimuli that underly their beneficial longer-term adaptations. OBJECTIVE: Compare acute cerebrovascular hemodynamic responses during aerobic versus resistance exercise. HYPOTHESIS: It was hypothesized that aerobic exercise would elicit larger increases in pulsatile hemodynamics and pulsatile damping compared to resistance exercise. METHODS: 15 Young, healthy adults (age: 27±6 years; BMI: 24±2.2 kg/m 2 ; n=8 females) completed cerebrovascular measures at rest and during (i) aerobic exercise (AE; 60% VO2 max) and (ii) leg press resistance exercise (RE; 65% 1-RM) on separate visits. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) and carotid pulsatility index (PI), and pulsatile damping were assessed via Doppler ultrasound. Carotid pulse pressure (PP) and β-stiffness were measured via tonometry and doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: AE elicited larger increases in carotid PI (p=0.014; AE: ∆+1.80±0.87; RE: ∆+0.95±0.85 au), PP (p=0,04; AE: ∆+42±22; RE: ∆+16±15 mmHg), and pulsatile damping (p=0.04; AE: ∆+0.89±0.64; RE: ∆+0.27±0.54 au) compared to RE. MCA PI (AE: ∆+0.35±0.17; RE: ∆+0.29±0.17 au) and carotid β-stiffness (AE: ∆+1.8±1.6; RE: ∆+1.0±1.7 au) increased similarly during AE and RE (time effect, p< 0.001, p< 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Despite similar increases in carotid stiffness during the AE and RE, AE elicited larger increases in hemodynamic pulsatility at the level of the carotid. Interestingly, increases in MCA PI during exercise did not differ between exercise types despite greater extracranial pulsatile hemodynamics occurring during AE. These data suggest that (i) the cerebrovasculature is better attenuating extracranial pulsatile hemodynamics during AE compared to RE; and (ii) both types of exercise may be expected to benefit cerebrovascular health since intracranial hemodynamic responses during acute exercise (the stimulus for longer term adaptation with subsequent repeated bouts) appeared largely similar. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2026 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.
Reed et al. (2026) studied Healthy adults (n=15). Aerobic exercise vs. Resistance exercise (65% 1-RM leg press) was evaluated on Change in carotid pulsatility index (PI) (p=0.014). Aerobic exercise elicited larger increases in carotid pulsatility index (∆+1.80 vs ∆+0.95 au, p=0.014) and pulse pressure compared to resistance exercise, while intracranial responses were similar.
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