The rising consumption of high-fat foods in contemporary society has been linked to the emergence of autism-like behaviors and increased insulin resistance. This study sought to examine the effects of metformin (MET) treatment and two forms of aerobic exercise—moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—on ameliorating autism-like behaviors and insulin resistance caused by a high-fat diet (HFD). Fifty male mice were divided into a normal diet (ND, n = 10) and HFD (n = 40) groups, with the latter subjected to an 8-week HFD regimen. The HFD group was subsequently divided into HFD + Veh, HFD + MET, HFD + MICT, and HFD + HIIT subgroups, receiving MET treatment and treadmill training for 8 weeks. Results revealed that HFD consumption led to increased anxiety-like behaviors (P < 0.05) and peripheral insulin resistance (P < 0.0001) compared to the ND group. In addition, there was a rise in autism-like behaviors in the HFD + Veh subgroup (P < 0.0001). MET and HIIT interventions demonstrated positive effects in reducing autism-like behaviors (P < 0.05), while both HIIT (P < 0.0001) and MICT (P < 0.05) effectively reduced anxiety levels. Furthermore, MET (P < 0.05), MICT (P < 0.05) and HIIT (P < 0.0001) interventions successfully lowered peripheral insulin resistance. This study highlights the negative impact of HFD consumption on social interactions and anxiety levels, with MET, MICT, and HIIT interventions exhibiting varying degrees of effectiveness in mitigating these adverse effects. Particularly, HIIT showed promise in addressing both HFD-induced behavioral and metabolic conditions. These findings offer crucial insights into potential therapeutic strategies for combating the harmful effects of HFD on behavior and metabolism.
This study examines the impact of 26-week exercise intervention facilitated by IoT devices on cognitive function, hippocampal volume, and health indicators in a real-world setting based on the Transtheoretical Model.
Middle-aged participants (n = 121, mean age = 49.8 ± 7.62 years) were randomly assigned to BrainUp (n = 61) or Sham (n = 60) application groups. Both groups engaged in voluntary aerobic exercise over a period of 26 weeks using an IoT device. The BrainUp application was designed to deliver personalized exercise routines aimed at enhancing participants’ cognitive function and hippocampal volume based on their individual level.
Linear mixed models revealed that both groups exhibited improvements in cognitive function and health indicators at post-intervention compared to pre-intervention, but no significant changes in hippocampal volume in either group over time. Path analysis and structural equation modeling indicated that motivation for exercise at 26 weeks played a key role in improving cognitive function and blood glucose, and alleviating depression.
Integrating physical activity with IoT devices in real-world settings shows promise for enhancing brain health and preventing hippocampal volume loss due to aging. Motivation might play a crucial role in maximizing the health benefits of physical activity, especially during the transition from the Action to Maintenance stages of behavioral changes to an active lifestyle.