Trajectories of odor identification during and after a 5-year exercise intervention in older adults
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- 2MiDT-National Research Center, Center for Innovation, Medical Equipment and Technology, St. Olavs Hospital-Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- 3Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- 4Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- 5School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Abstract
BackgroundThis study examined the effect of a 5-year randomized controlled exercise intervention on OI over 10 years in older adults. To test the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) hypothesis, which proposes that CRF, preferably measured as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), is a key mediator linking exercise to brain health, we examined the association between exercise group and OI, and VO2peak across all participants and OI.MethodsParticipants (70–77 years) were randomized to 5 years of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or a control group asked to follow national physical activity guidelines. A longitudinal cohort of 106 participants underwent OI testing (Sniffin’ Sticks) and brain MRI at baseline and after 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. At 10 years, cross-sectional OI and MRI data were collected from an additional 326 participants, resulting in a cross-sectional cohort of 388 participants when combined with those remaining in the longitudinal cohort at 10 years. Health, exercise characteristics and VO2peak were assessed at all timepoints in all participants. Linear mixed models assessed the effect of intervention on OI over time in the longitudinal cohort, while linear regressions examined group differences in OI at 10 years in the cross-sectional cohort. Associations between VO2peak, self-reported exercise characteristics, and hippocampal volume with OI were assessed in both cohorts. Sensitivity analyses addressed loss to follow-up and potential selection bias.ResultsOI performance decreased significantly over time, with no differences between the exercise groups over 10 years or at the 10-year follow-up. There were no significant group differences in VO2peak over time. Higher VO2peak at baseline and 10 years was associated with better OI performance at 10 years. Hippocampal volume was positively associated with OI at the 10-year follow-up. Self-reported exercise intensity was not associated with OI, but self-reported exercise duration was significantly associated with OI up to 3-year follow-up, but not thereafter.ConclusionOI decline did not differ between the MICT, HIIT, and control groups. However, higher VO2peak at baseline and 10 years later was associated with better OI performance. These findings suggest a direct link between VO2peak and reduced age-related OI decline in older adults.Clinical trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT01666340.
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BibTeX
@article{reitlo2026trajectories,
title = {{Trajectories of odor identification during and after a 5-year exercise intervention in older adults}},
author = {Line Skarsem Reitlo and Line Skarsem Reitlo and Simon Holmvik and Ane-Kristine Øien Dyrvik and Ulrik Wisløff and Ulrik Wisløff and Dorthe Stensvold and Asta Kristine Håberg and Asta Kristine Håberg},
journal = {Frontiers in Physiology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fphys.2026.1907534},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2026.1907534},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trajectories of odor identification during and after a 5-year exercise intervention in older adults
AU - Line Skarsem Reitlo
AU - Line Skarsem Reitlo
AU - Simon Holmvik
AU - Ane-Kristine Øien Dyrvik
AU - Ulrik Wisløff
AU - Ulrik Wisløff
AU - Dorthe Stensvold
AU - Asta Kristine Håberg
AU - Asta Kristine Håberg
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - Frontiers in Physiology
DO - 10.3389/fphys.2026.1907534
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2026.1907534
AB - BackgroundThis study examined the effect of a 5-year randomized controlled exercise intervention on OI over 10 years in older adults. To test the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) hypothesis, which proposes that CRF, preferably measured as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), is a key mediator linking exercise to brain health, we examined the association between exercise group and OI, and VO2peak across all participants and OI.MethodsParticipants (70–77 years) were randomized to 5 years of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or a control group asked to follow national physical activity guidelines. A longitudinal cohort of 106 participants underwent OI testing (Sniffin’ Sticks) and brain MRI at baseline and after 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. At 10 years, cross-sectional OI and MRI data were collected from an additional 326 participants, resulting in a cross-sectional cohort of 388 participants when combined with those remaining in the longitudinal cohort at 10 years. Health, exercise characteristics and VO2peak were assessed at all timepoints in all participants. Linear mixed models assessed the effect of intervention on OI over time in the longitudinal cohort, while linear regressions examined group differences in OI at 10 years in the cross-sectional cohort. Associations between VO2peak, self-reported exercise characteristics, and hippocampal volume with OI were assessed in both cohorts. Sensitivity analyses addressed loss to follow-up and potential selection bias.ResultsOI performance decreased significantly over time, with no differences between the exercise groups over 10 years or at the 10-year follow-up. There were no significant group differences in VO2peak over time. Higher VO2peak at baseline and 10 years was associated with better OI performance at 10 years. Hippocampal volume was positively associated with OI at the 10-year follow-up. Self-reported exercise intensity was not associated with OI, but self-reported exercise duration was significantly associated with OI up to 3-year follow-up, but not thereafter.ConclusionOI decline did not differ between the MICT, HIIT, and control groups. However, higher VO2peak at baseline and 10 years later was associated with better OI performance. These findings suggest a direct link between VO2peak and reduced age-related OI decline in older adults.Clinical trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT01666340.
SN - 1664-042X
ER -