Nicolas Berryman

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of Quebec in Montreal

The effects of physical activity on cognition in older adults have been extensively investigated in the last decade. Different interventions such as aerobic, strength, and gross motor training programs have resulted in improvements in cognitive functions. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical activity and cognition ar...

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the net effects of strength training on middle- and long-distance performance through a meta-analysis of the available literature. Methods: Three databases were searched from which 28 out of 554 potential studies met all inclusion criteria. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated an...

The classical work by Robert C. Hickson showed in 1980 that the addition of a resistance training protocol to a predominantly aerobic program could lead to impaired leg strength adaptations in comparison to a resistance-only training regimen. This interference phenomenon was later highlighted in many reports, including a meta-analysis. However, it...

Perceptual-cognitive performance is fundamental for the anticipation and decision-making demands of open-skill sports but may be disrupted by fatigue. This scoping review aimed to describe what is known about the effects of fatigue on perceptual-cognitive performance among open-skill sport athletes. Six databases were systematically searched. Artic...

Purpose: To examine the association between reactive strength index (RSI) and metabolic cost of running (MCr) in master athletes. We hypothesized that individuals with a higher RSI would exhibit a lower MCr, that both variables would be associated, and that age would moderate this relationship. Methods: Forty-five male master athletes participat...

Chronic low back pain is a prevalent and debilitating condition that can be difficult to resolve. One effective approach is physical exercise training. This study investigates the hypothesis that exercise training normalizes immune-brain interactions that cause pain exacerbation and perpetuation. Fifty-seven participants with chronic low back pain...

Objectives Using a mixed-methods approach, this project first strove to identify differences in the perceived demands of practice and water polo match play, as well as athletes’ and staff perspectives on barriers to optimal competition preparedness. We then aimed to use these findings to guide the co-creation of CHAOS (Constraints-led, Holistic App...

This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of a water polo video-based test to assess decision making. Ninety-five female and male elite/tier 4 (T4) or highly trained/tier 3 (T3) athletes participated using their smartphones. Males repeated the test one week later for reliability analyses. Coaches assessed males’ in-water decision ma...

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...

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...

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...

Perceptual-cognitive performance is fundamental for the anticipation and decision-making demands of open-skill sports. Therefore, disruption caused by fatigue can have important consequences for game outcomes. This scoping review aimed to describe what is known about the effects of fatigue on perceptual-cognitive performance among open-skill sport...

Given the importance of decision making for sport performance, there is interest in evaluating it – often through video-based tests – for talent identification or progress monitoring. Thus, we aimed to assess the construct validity and test-retest reliability of a video-based water polo decision-making protocol among female and male players. Sixty...

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...

Multidomain interventions have shown tremendous potential for improving cognition in older adults. It is unclear if multidomain interventions can be delivered remotely and whether remote intervention is beneficial for older adults who are vulnerable or at risk of cognitive decline. In a 26-week multi-site, home-based, double-blind, randomized contr...

16th European Congress of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 11-16 July, Padova, Italy

Purpose: To assess the effect of a rugby-specific high-intensity interval-training (HIITRugby) protocol on the repeated high-intensity-effort ability of young elite rugby union players and to verify the influence of 2 preconditioning sequences composed either of physical contacts (ie, tackles) or of additional runs on the magnitude of improvement....

Objectives Studies suggest that cognitive training and physical activity can improve age-related deficits in dual-task performances. However, both of these interventions have never been compared in the same study. This paper investigates the improvement in dual-task performance in two types of exercise training groups and a cognitive training group...

Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and brain health in healthy older adults have been reported using a variety of cardiorespiratory fitness estimates (CRFe). Using commonly used methods to determine CRF, we assessed the relationship between CRFe and executive function performance. Healthy older adults (n = 60, mean age 68 years, 77% wom...

To assess the effects of a taper combined with proactive recovery on the repeated high intensity effort (RHIE) of elite rugby union players, and the possible interaction of pre-taper fatigue and sleep. Eighteen players performed a 3-week intensive training block followed by a 7-day exponential taper combined with a multicomponent recovery strategy....

Aim: The aim of the current study was to assess whether executive function and prefrontal oxygenation are dependent on fitness level and age in older adults. Methods: Twenty-four healthy males aged between 55 and 69 years old were recruited for this study. They were stratified by age, leading to the creation of two groups: 55-60 years old and 61...

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between physical fitness and repeated high-intensity effort (RHIE) ability in elite rugby union players, depending on playing position. Method: Thirty-nine players underwent a fitness testing battery composed of a body composition assessment, upper-body strength (1-repetition maximum bench press and 1-rep...

There is a gap in water-based agility testing that considers both the change-of-direction (COD) and perceptive-reactive components of agility. This study sought to develop easily implementable, sport-specific in-water agility tests for water polo and to verify the reliability and validity of these new tests: the in-water Stop and Go (SG) and Jump a...

Purpose: To assess the effects of a short-term taper on the ability to perform repeated high-intensity efforts, depending on players' fatigue level following an intensive training block. Method: After a 3-day off-season camp, 13 players followed the same 3-week preseason training block followed by a 7-day exponential taper. Performance was asses...

Objectives Mobility is a complex but crucial clinical outcome in older adults. Past observational studies have highlighted that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), energy cost of walking (ECW), and cognitive switching abilities are associated with mobility performance, making these key determinants of mobility intervention targets to enhance mobility...

Evidence supports the implementation of concurrent strength and running training, within the same mesocycle, to improve performances in middle- and long-distance events. However, very little is known about the effects of concurrent training cessation. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the effects of 4 weeks of explosive strength tra...

Background Autonomic function has been linked to cognitive abilities in aging. Even in non-clinical states, a certain variability in heart rhythm regulation can be measured with QT dispersion (QTcD), an ECG marker of ventricular repolarization which has been linked to autonomic function and cardiovascular health. QTcD has been shown to be higher in...

Background: In older adults, multidomain training that includes physical and cognitive activities has been associated with improvement of physical and cognitive health. The goal of the multisite StayFitLonger study is to assess a home-based computerised training programme, which combines physical exercises, stimulating cognitive activities and vir...

Background Studies report benefits of physical exercise and cognitive training to enhance cognition in older adults. However, most studies did not compare these interventions to appropriate active controls. Moreover, physical exercise and cognitive training seem to involve different mechanisms of brain plasticity, suggesting a potential synergistic...

SYNOPSIS: Attenuated heart rate recovery (HRR) and systolic blood pressure recovery (SBPR) after a maximal exercise test (VO 2 peak) are linked to cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). The relationship between the presence of CVRF and reduced cognition is well established in older adults. Yet the explicit relationship between HRR or SBPR and cognitio...

This study aimed to adapt a repeated high-intensity effort (RHIE) test to the rugby union physical demands and assess both sprint time and tackle indices reliability. Following a familiarization session, sixteen elite rugby union players completed two RHIE tests consisting of 12 × 20 m sprint + tackle. Total sprint time and total g-force during tac...

Purpose: To assess the effects of a taper strategy on neuromuscular and metabolic fitness in team sport athletes, through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: To be included in this meta-analysis, studies had to involve competitive team sport athletes and a tapering intervention providing details about the procedures used to decrease the...

Introduction: Many studies have reported that regular physical activity is positively associated with cognitive performance and more selectively with executive functions. However, some studies reported that the association of physical activity on executive performance in younger adults was not as clearly established when compared to studies with ol...

Introduction A reduction in gait speed has been associated with many health-related problems in older adults. Importantly, aging is often characterized by a series of biomechanical and neuromuscular alterations, which could increase the energy cost of walking (ECW) and explain, at least partly, the observed reductions in gait speed. However, most o...

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation and dual-task performance in healthy young males. Changes in the concentration of oxygenated (ΔHbO2) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (ΔHHb) in the right and left PFC were examined during a cognitive aud...

This study aimed to examine in healthy older adults the effects of dance/movement training (DMT) on the cortisol awakening response (CAR), a marker of chronic stress. Forty participants (mean age = 67.45, 75% women) were randomized into three groups: DMT (n = 12) – a set of exercises to promote gross motor skills, body awareness, and socialization;...

Introduction: It is generally accepted that physical activity promotes healthy aging. Recent studies suggest dance could also benefit cognition and physical health in seniors, but many styles and approaches of dance exist and rigorous designs for intervention studies are still scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Dance/Movem...

Exercise is recognized as a promising approach to counteract aging-associated declines in cognitive functions. However, the exact molecular pathways involved remain unclear. Aerobic training interventions and improvements in peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) have been associated with increases in the peripheral concentration of brain-derived neurotrophi...

The purpose of this study was to verify the metrological properties of portable force plates that are used to assess countermovement jump performance. While 88 participants (38 males, 50 females) were included in the agreement analyses, 84 participants (37 males and 47 females) completed the reliability part of the study. This randomized crossover...

Studies suggest that physical exercise and cognitive training interventions can help improve cognitive functions and mobility in older adults. However, the specific impact of different types of exercise programs and cognitive training on mobility and cognition in sedentary older adults is not fully understood. To investigate this, 68 healthy sedent...

Previous studies have shown that physical activity and cognitive training can help improve age-related deficits in attentional control. However, it is not yet clear how physical activity-induced improvements compare to cognitive training improvements in attentional control. To investigate this, 68 healthy sedentary participants over the age of 60 (...

The risk of developing hypertension increases with aging. Once present, cognitive decline is more likely. Importantly, the impact on cognition can be minimized with cognitive or physical training. However, at present it is unknown if hypertension modulates the gains that interventions have on cognition in healthy older adults. Here, we aimed to ide...

Background: Spontaneous walking speed (SWS) is one of the most important indicators of health in older adults. Studies have shown benefits of physical trainings on SWS in older adults but the impact of cognitive training and multidomain interventions remains understudied. Aims: This original study aimed at comparing the impact of aerobic/resista...

Background: Physical exercise, cognitive training, and vitamin D are low cost interventions that have the potential to enhance cognitive function and mobility in older adults, especially in pre-dementia states such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Aerobic and progressive resistance exercises have benefits to cognitive performance, though eviden...

Several studies have reported benefits of exercise interventions (see Bherer, Erickson & Liu-Ambrose, 2013 for review) and cognitive training (see Belleville & Bherer, 2012 for a review) on cognitive performance in older adults, but the effect of combining both interventions has rarely been studied. This talk will present findings from dual-task co...

Combined strength and aerobic (S+A) and gross motor skills programs (GMS) have shown promise in selectively improving executive functions (EF) of older adults. However, interruptions in training may occur resulting in losses of training-induced physiological benefits. So far, little is known about the effects of physical training cessation on EF. T...

Everyday activities like walking and talking can put an older adult at risk for a fall if they have difficulty dividing their attention between motor and cognitive tasks. Training studies have demonstrated that both cognitive and physical training regimens can improve motor and cognitive task performance. Few studies have examined the benefits of c...

Purpose: Gait speed is associated with survival in older adults and it was suggested that an elevated energy cost of walking (Cw) is an important determinant of gait speed reduction. Thus far, little is known about the factors that contribute to a lower Cw but it was shown that lower body strength training could reduce the Cw. Therefore, the objec...

Purpose Physical exercise and cognitive training have been shown to enhance cognition among older adults. However, few studies have looked at the potential synergetic effects of combining physical and cognitive training in a single study. Prior trials on combined training have led to interesting yet equivocal results. The aim of this study was to e...

The purpose of the study was to determine whether total work measured during a high intensity isokinetic fatigue test (TWFAT) could be considered as a valid measure of anaerobic work capacity (AWC), such as determined by total work measured during a Wingate Anaerobic Test (TWWAnT). Twenty welltrained cyclists performed 2 randomly ordered sessions i...

To assess the relationship between selected measures (the slope and average performance) obtained during a high intensity isokinetic fatigue test of the knee (FAT) and relevant measures of anaerobic and aerobic capacities. 20 well-trained cyclists performed 3 randomly ordered sessions involving a FAT consisting in 30 reciprocal maximal concentric c...

The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical functioning and cardiovascular burden on the cognitive performance of community-dwelling older adults. Ninety-three adults aged 60 and older completed a medical evaluation by a geriatrician, performance-based physical tests, and neuropsychological assessments. Cognitive composite...

The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between executive functions, physical fitness and mobility in well-functioning older adults. Forty-eight well functioning older adults (70.5 +/- 5.3years old; 20 Men, 28 Women) were included in this study. Two median splits were conducted based on each individual's performance for the 10M...

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of resistance training cessation on strength performance through a meta-analysis. Seven databases were searched from which 103 of 284 potential studies met inclusion criteria. Training status, sex, age, and the duration of training cessation were used as moderators. Standardized mean difference (SM...

Postexercise HRR (heart rate recovery) and HRV (heart rate variability) are commonly used to asses non-invasive cardiac autonomic regulation and more particularly reactivation parasympathetic function. Unfortunately, the reliability of postexercise HRR and HRV remains poorly quantified and is still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine abso...

We assessed whether the metabolic energy cost of walking was higher when measured overground or on a treadmill in a population of healthy older adults. We also assessed the association between the two testing modes. Participants (n = 20, 14 men and 6 women aged between 65 and 83 years of age) were randomly divided into two groups. Half of them went...

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of 2 strength training methods on the energy cost of running (Cr). Thirty-five moderately to well-trained male endurance runners were randomly assigned to either a control group (C) or 2 intervention groups. All groups performed the same endurance-training program during an 8-week period. Interven...

This study was designed to investigate the interchangeability of 2 commercial optical timing systems for measuring flight time and contact time during jumping and hopping. Seventy-three physical education students (33 men and 40 women) participated in this study. They were instructed to perform 3 jump protocols (squat jump, countermovement jump, an...