
Louis BhererUniversité de Montréal | UdeM · Department of Medicine
Louis Bherer
PhD, MPs, Neuropsychologist
About
430
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Introduction
Skills and Expertise
Publications
Publications (430)
The aim of this study was to measure the effects of chronic and acute aerobic exercise at two different intensities on cognitive performance and cerebrovascular response in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Thirty‐five CHD patients completed two exercise bouts at 30% and 70% of their respective peak aerobic power on an ergocycle while performi...
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of home-based exercise, with or without cognitive training, on cognition and physical function in individuals aged 50 years and older with stable CVD during the COVID-19 pandemic. 122 patients (67.3 ± 7.9 years, 71% men) with stable CVD (77% coronary heart disease) were randomly assigned (1:1) t...
Age-related arterial stiffness increases pulsatility that reaches the cerebral microcirculation, compromises cerebrovascular health and lead to cognitive decline. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) such as high blood pressure can exacerbate this effect. Despite extensive research on the impact of antihypertensive treatments on redu...
Background
Dementia incidence is projected to significantly increase, posing unique challenges to healthcare systems. Identifying non‐modifiable and modifiable risk factors (RF) is crucial, including sex‐specific factors, given the higher prevalence among females (60%). Here, we employed a network analysis to examine prominent RF in healthy control...
Background
Studies suggest that cognitive training and physical exercise can independently help improve cognition in older adults. This randomized clinical trial (COVEPIC study) aimed to compare the effects of 6 months of home-based physical exercise alone and combined with cognitive training on the cognition of older adults.
Methods
127 adults (5...
Background
Collaborative research with end-users is an effective way to generate meaningful research applications and support greater impact on practice and knowledge exchange. To address these needs, a Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) of nine older adults (ages 64–80, 67% women) was formed to advise scientists on the development of Brain Health PRO (B...
The Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) was created by the Canadian federal government through its health research funding agency, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), in 2014, as a response to the G7 initiative to fight dementia. Two five-year funding cycles (2014–2019; 2019–2024) have occurred following peer re...
Background
Patients can experience persistent cognitive complaints and deficits in long-COVID. Inflammation and capillary damage may contribute to symptoms by interfering with tissue oxygenation.
Methods
This was an exploratory pilot crossover study designed to describe the effects of supplemental oxygen (portable oxygen concentrator, POC) on cogn...
The use of better normalized cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) metrics (predicted value (VO2/pred) or lean mass (VO2/LM)) could improve our understanding of the relationship between VO2max and cognition in older adults with cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).
PURPOSE: Determine the associations between two normalized VO2max metrics (VO2/pred and...
Significance
We propose NIRSTORM, a software package built within Brainstorm environment, enabling full data analysis of functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) data from experiment planning to 3D reconstruction of hemodynamic fluctuations on the cortical surface using optical tomographic approaches. NIRSTORM enables the integration of fNIRS...
Background
Cardiac rehabilitation programs provide a valuable opportunity to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs) and metabolic comorbidities, including metabolic syndrome and prediabetes. However, strategies to reverse these conditions remain to be explored. The DIABE...
A healthy lifestyle can be an important prerequisite to prevent or at least delay the onset of dementia. However, the large number of physically inactive adults underscores the need for developing and evaluating intervention approaches aimed at improving adherence to a physically active lifestyle. In this regard, hybrid physical training, which usu...
Purpose:
This study compared the effects of linear (LP) and non-linear (NLP) training periodization on resting cognitive functions, neurotrophic biomarkers (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]), and cathepsin-B in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods:
Forty-four patients with CAD reporte...
Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of an eight-week cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program on cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) and key cardiopulmonary exercise test measures, quality of life, and symptom burden in individuals with Long COVID. Design: Forty individuals with Long COVID (mean age 53±11 years), were randomized into 2 groups...
Objective
To investigate the effectiveness of an eight-week cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program on cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) and key cardiopulmonary exercise test measures, quality of life, and symptom burden in individuals with Long COVID.
Design
Forty individuals with Long COVID (mean age 53 ± 11 years), were randomized into 2 group...
Background
Physical and cognitive deficits often coexist as comorbidities in individuals with chronic heart failure (CHF). Commonly used in clinical settings, the 6-minute walking test (6MWT), Timed-Up and Go (TUG) and the 10m walking speed (WS) are functional tests that have demonstrated associations with global cognition and specific cognitive do...
Background
Cognitive impairment is a common comorbidity in chronic heart failure patients (CHF) that negatively affects prognosis. Previous studies reported that higher cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak), measured with a cardiopulmonary exercise stress test (CPET), is associated with better cognitive performance in CHF. The impact of reduced or pr...
Background
Studies on the associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) and cognition have used inconsistent methods, which could explain the variability in the results. Understanding how ventilatory, cardiac and peripheral determinants of VO2max impact cognition would allow us to better prevent cognitive decline.
Purpose
Determine the r...
Background
The most studied strategies for type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission are bariatric surgery and continuous low-calorie diet. DIABÉPIC 2 pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of a T2D remission program based on nutritional and training interventions with known cardiovascular benefits. Thirteen of the 34 diabetics who completed the program we...
Objectives
1) To compare cognitive performances in male and female individuals with HF; 2) to determine whether cardiorespiratory fitness, Myers score and functional capacity predict cognition differently according to biological sex.
Methods
68 patients, 25 female (68±9 yrs) and 48 male participants (67±8 yrs) with HF, completed a 6-minute walking...
Background
Cardiac rehabilitation programs provide a valuable opportunity to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) and metabolic comorbidities, including metabolic syndrome (MetS) and prediabetes. However, strategies to reverse these conditions remain to be explored.
Ob...
Background
In patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), individualized exercise training (ET) programs are strongly recommended to optimize peak oxygen uptake (V̇$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}} $$O2peak) improvement and prognosis. However, the cardiac hemodynamic factors responsible for a positive response to training remain unclear. The aim of this study wa...
Background: Cognitive impairment, brain fog, depressive
symptoms, and sleep disturbance are prevalent symptoms
among individuals with long COVID, for which there
currently is no treatment. Aim: To assess the effectiveness
of an eight-week cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
programme on cognition, psychological well-being, and
sleep quality in individua...
Objective: Aging is a natural process associated with a decline in cognition. However, the mediating effect of physical function and circulating myokines on this relationship has yet to be fully clarified. This study investigated how muscle strength and circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels mediate the relationship between age and...
Recent research suggests that museum visits can benefit psychological well-being by reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety. However, these reported relaxing effects remain inconsistent between studies. Shedding light on the underlying cerebral mechanisms of museum visits might support a better understanding of how it affects psychological well-bei...
Background: Lifestyle intervention programs have long been shown to be effective in preventing cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) such as metabolic syndrome (MS), impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG), type II diabetes (T2DM), and hypertension (HTA). However, their potential for remission of these CMRFs in overweight/obese adults is less clear. The im...
This study aimed to highlight the ventilatory and circulatory determinants of changes in VO2peak after exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (ECR) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Eighty-two CHD patients performed, before and after a 3-month ECR, a cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a bike with gas exchanges measurments (VO2pe...
UNSTRUCTURED
A healthy lifestyle can be an important prerequisite to prevent or at least delay the onset of dementia. However, the large number of physically inactive adults underscores the need for developing and evaluating intervention approaches aimed at improving adherence to a physically active lifestyle. In this regard, hybrid physical traini...
Age-related arterial stiffness increases pulsatility that reaches the cerebral microcirculation, compromises cerebrovascular health and lead to cognitive decline. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) such as high blood pressure can exacerbate this effect. Despite extensive research on the impact of antihypertensive treatments on redu...
Background
The Intervention mapping framework was used to plan and develop Brain Health PRO (BHPro), a 45‐week, theory‐ and evidence‐based online educational program co‐created with users in English and French. The goal of the program is to improve dementia literacy, self‐efficacy, and attitude toward dementia and ultimately have a positive impact...
Background
Age‐related hearing loss is associated with poor cognitive‐motor dual‐task performance and is a risk factor for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Although different interventions have shown to improve dual‐task performance in older adults, it is currently unclear whether hearing ability affects training efficacy in individual...
BACKGROUND: Exercise training (ET) at home can be a good
alternative to encourage access and participation to primaryprevention programs in older adults with cardiovascular risk
factors (CVRF). ET can improve prognosis, cardiopulmonary,
hemodynamic functions, and quality of life of older adults
with CVRF. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is a powerfu...
BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D), prediabetes (Pred), and insulin resistance (IR) were previously believed to be irreversible conditions. However, thanks to numerous studies on bariatric surgery, we know that remission can be achieved when substantial weight loss is achieved. To offer individuals a more comprehensive range of options, exploring al...
BACKGROUND: Long COVID-19 syndrome is when symptoms
persist formore than 3months after the infection (around 15%of
adults infected by COVID-19). Long COVID-19 is a multisystem
disease with over 100 listed symptoms; the most common
are fatigue, trouble sleeping, breathlessness, pain and cognitive
problems. Some studies have evaluated the effect of r...
BACKGROUND: The most studied strategies for type 2 diabetes
(T2D) remission are bariatric surgery and continuous lowcalorie
diet that both induce fat mass loss. Objective: The
DIABEPIC 2 pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a 6-
month T2D remission program based on a combination of a
dietary re-education (low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet,
in...
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment affects up to 50% of
patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with high
mortality rates, poor quality of life and reduced functional
capacities. There appears to be a bi-directional relationship
between HF and cognitive impairment: HF induces cognitive
impairment, which can lead to suboptimal treatment adh...
Background
Hearing loss predicts cognitive decline and falls risk. It has been argued that degraded hearing makes listening effortful, causing competition for higher-level cognitive resources needed for secondary cognitive or motor tasks. Therefore, executive function training has the potential to improve cognitive performance, in turn improving mo...
Introduction:
Despite proven programmes, implementing lifestyle interventions for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes is challenging. Cardiac rehabilitation, provide a valuable opportunity to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviours for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, only a limited number of studies...
Evidence suggests falls and postural instabilities among seniors are attributed to a decline in both the processing of afferent signals (e.g., proprioceptive, vestibular) and attentional resources. We investigated the interaction between the non-visual and attentional demands of postural control in sedentary seniors. Old and young adults performed...
Importance:
Exercise, cognitive training, and vitamin D may enhance cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Objective:
To determine whether aerobic-resistance exercises would improve cognition relative to an active control and if a multidomain intervention including exercises, computerized cognitive training, and vitamin...
Background: Brain health and physical functioning decline with advancing age. The spectrum of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) can begin with an accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), which can progress to ischemic or nonischemic heart disease. Both CVRFs and CVDs have independently been associated with cognitive deficits. Studies have...
Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Mirella and Lino Saputo Research Chair in Cardiovascular Diseases and the Prevention of Cognitive Decline from Université de Montréal at the Montreal Heart Institute. Montreal Heart Institute and the EPIC Center Foundations. FB are financially supported by a grant...
Changes in functional brain connectivity (FBC) may indicate how lifestyle modifications can prevent the progression to dementia; FBC identifies areas that are spatially separate but temporally synchronized in their activation and is altered in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal state between healthy cognitive aging and dementia...
In addition to reduced VO2max, cardiac index and elevated
vascular resistance, patients with type II diabetes showed reduced cerebral hemoglobin (O2Hb and HHb) during early recovery (0 – 2 min) after a CPET and lower performances in executive functions compared to healthy control. Cerebrovascular responses with a CPET and during the recovery phase...
Recent evidence shows that a nap and acute exercise synergistically enhanced memory. Additionally, human-based cross-sectional studies and animal experiments suggest that physical exercise may mitigate the cognitive impairments of poor sleep quality and sleep restriction, respectively. We evaluated whether acute exercise may offset sleep restrictio...
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are prevalent in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Among people with T2D aged over 70 years, up to 45% might have cognitive dysfunction. Cardiorespiratory fitness (V˙O2max) correlates with cognitive performances in healthy younger and older adults, and individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVD)....
Therapeutic Area: Diabetes, Lifestyle Interventions Background: Different intensive lifestyle interventions have been shown to be useful for effective control and even reversal of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: The Montreal Heart Institute Cardiovascular Prevention Center (EPIC) started a comprehensive lifestyle clinic to study the...
Independently, obesity and physical activity (PA) influence cerebral structure in aging, yet their interaction has not been investigated. We examined sex differences in the relationships among PA, obesity, and cerebral structure in aging with 340 participants who completed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition to quantify grey matter volume...
The application of interventions to enhance mobility in ecological settings remain understudied. This study was developed to evaluate the feasibility of training methods in a community centre and to evaluate their impact on mobility outcomes. Fifty-four participants were randomized to one of three 12-week training programs (three times/week): aerob...
Background and Objectives
In older adults, executive functions are important for daily-life function and mobility. Evidence suggests that the relationship between cognition and mobility is dynamic and could vary according to individual factors, but whether cardiorespiratory fitness reduces the age-related increase of interdependence between mobilit...
Older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) have increased risk of dementia. Physical exercise, cognitive training, and vitamin D supplementation are emerging interventions for improving cognition. However, the potential synergism of combining them to improve cognition in MCI has not been yet tested. The SYNERGIC trial (SYNnchronizing Exercis...
Hypertension is one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for the development of cognitive impairment and dementia. However, there are conflicting reports regarding which class of antihypertensive medication is the best for reducing the risk of cognitive decline. The objective of this study is to determine whether sex determines the pharmacologi...
In older adults, executive functions are important for daily-life function and mobility. Evidence suggests that the relationship between cognition and mobility is dynamic and could vary according to individual factors, but whether cardiorespiratory fitness reduces the age-related increase of interdependence between mobility and cognition remains un...
Background:
There is mounting evidence that regular physical activity is an important prerequisite for healthy cognitive aging. Consequently, the finding that almost one-third of the adult population does not reach the recommended level of regular physical activity calls for further public health actions. In this context, digital and home-based ph...
An association between muscle and cognition in older adults has been reported, but underlying mechanisms and physiological factors remain poorly understood. It has previously been suggested that a possible mechanism through Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) could explain this relationship between age-related muscle and cognitive declines. Partic...
Functional brain connectivity (FBC), or areas that are anatomically separate but temporally synchronized in their activation, represent a sensitive biomarker for monitoring dementia progression. It is unclear whether frailty is associated with FBC in those at higher risk of progression to dementia (e.g., mild cognitive impairment -MCI-) and if sex...
Background and Objective. In older adults, executive functions are important for daily-life function and mobility. Evidence suggests that the relationship between cognition and mobility is dynamic and could vary according to individual factors, but whether cardiorespiratory fitness reduces the age-related increase of interdependence between mobilit...
Cognitive-motor dual-tasking is a complex activity that predicts falls risk and cognitive impairment in older adults. Cognitive and physical training can both lead to improvements in dual-tasking; however, less is known about what mechanisms underlie these changes. To investigate this, 33 healthy older adults were randomized to one of three trainin...