# The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Moderate Alcohol Consumption on Cognitive Performance-A Multidisciplinary Intervention in Young Healthy Adults

PMID: 38892613
Journal: Nutrients
Published: 2024 May 29
Authors: Molina-Hidalgo C, Amaro-Gahete FJ, Peven JC, Erickson KI, Catena A, Castillo MJ

## Question

Does 10 weeks of supervised HIIT improve cognitive performance in healthy young adults, and does moderate alcohol intake blunt any cognitive effect?

## Summary

In a 10-week BEER-HIIT trial, 74 healthy young adults completed final cognitive analyses after allocation to non-training control, HIIT with moderate alcohol, or HIIT without alcohol. Cognitive scores improved over time in all groups, but HIIT and moderate alcohol did not produce between-group cognitive differences; larger VO2max gains were associated with better processing speed, inhibitory control, and verbal fluency.

## Population

- Healthy young adults allocated to non-training control or supervised HIIT with alcohol or non-alcohol beverages.
- Sample size: 74
- Age: Approximately 20-25 years by group means
- Sex: 46% female in abstract; 34 women in final analyses
- Fitness level: Not in structured training in prior 5 months
- Health status: Healthy, BMI 18.5-30 kg/m2

## Methodology

- Registered controlled multidisciplinary intervention with preference-based HIIT versus non-training allocation and randomized beverage suballocation
- 10 weeks
- University research setting in Granada, Spain
- Controlled study design.

## Protocol

- BEER-HIIT circuit.
- Modality: Bodyweight/TRX circuit.
- Recovery: Passive rest between exercises and active rest between sets at RPE 6.
- Sets or repetitions: Eight exercises performed twice per set.
- Intensity: RPE 8-9 familiarization, then RPE 10; active rest RPE 6.
- Session duration: 40, 50, then 65 min/week split across two sessions.
- Frequency: 2 sessions/week.
- Program length: 10 weeks.
- Progression: Volume and intensity increased from familiarization to Phase I and Phase II.
- Non-training control.
- Modality: Usual active lifestyle without structured exercise.
- Program length: 10 weeks.
- Progression: None.

## Outcomes

### Cognition
Status: no clear change
Cognitive improvements occurred in all groups and were not significantly different between HIIT and non-training groups.

Adjusted between-group differences for cognitive outcomes were all p>0.05.

### VO2max association
Status: improved
Greater relative VO2max gains were associated with better processing speed, inhibitory control, and verbal fluency changes.

All beta>0.249 and p<0.034.

### Alcohol moderation
Status: no clear change
Moderate alcohol did not significantly alter cognitive outcomes in the HIIT participants.

No beverage interaction was observed for any outcome.

## Practical Insights

- Do not use this study to claim HIIT independently improves cognition in healthy young adults.
- The protocol shows a progressive RPE-based bodyweight/TRX HIIT model with a familiarization phase.

## Limitations

- Training allocation was preference-based
- Control group maintained an active lifestyle
- Physical activity monitoring was self-reported
- Sample size was limited
- Alcohol assignment was not fully double-blind placebo-controlled

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse events were reported in this cognitive-outcome paper.
- Participants completed medical screening before enrollment.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38892613/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111680) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11174968/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.