Abstract Cardiorespiratory exercise is known to modulate motor cortical plasticity in young adults, but the influence of ageing on this relationship is unknown. Here, we compared the effects of a single session of cardiorespiratory exercise on motor cortical plasticity in young and older adults. We acquired measures of cortical excitatory and inhibitory activity of the primary motor cortex using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) from 20 young ( M ± s.d. = 25.30 ± 4.00 years) and 20 older ( M ± s.d. = 64.10 ± 6.50 years) healthy adults. Single and paired pulse TMS measures were collected before and after a 20-minute bout of high-intensity interval cycling exercise or an equivalent period of rest, and again after intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). In both young and older adults, exercise led to an increase in glutamatergic excitation and a reduction in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibition. However, in contrast to younger adults, older adults showed an attenuated plasticity response to iTBS following exercise. These results demonstrate an age-dependent decline in cortical plasticity and indicate that a preceding bout of high-intensity interval exercise may be less effective for enhancing primary motor cortex plasticity in older adults. Our findings align with the hypothesis that the capacity for cortical plasticity is altered in older age. Key points Exercise enhances motor cortical plasticity in young adults, but how ageing influences this effect is unknown. Here, we compared primary motor cortical plasticity responses in young and older adults before and after a bout of high-intensity interval exercise, and again after a plasticity-inducing protocol – intermittent theta burst stimulation. In both young and older adults, exercise led to an increase in glutamatergic excitation and a reduction in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) inhibition. Our key result was that older adults showed an attenuated plasticity response to theta burst stimulation following exercise, relative to younger adults. Our findings demonstrate an age-dependent decline in exercise-enhanced cortical plasticity and indicate that a preceding bout of high-intensity interval exercise may be less effective for enhancing primary motor cortex plasticity in older adults.

Ageing attenuates exercise-enhanced motor cortical plasticity