<b>Cerebral hemodynamic responses during exercise: A systematic review</b>

The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the acute cerebral hemodynamic responses to exercise. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Clinical Trials databases were searched from inception until September 2024 by two independent reviewers for cross-sectional, cross-over and/or parallel group trials of an acute bout of exercise in adults with/without chronic diseases compared/not to a bout of exercise or a parallel group, monitoring cerebral blood flow in one of the predefined arteries (i.e., middle [MCAv], posterior, internal carotid, anterior, vertebral cerebral arteries). Data (mean±standard deviation [SD]) were extracted and change scores from the peak values during exercise (Δ=peak–baseline) were calculated for further comparisons using independent samples t test (P&lt;0.05 significant). Ninety-seven studies (1718 participants) were included. Results indicated that aerobic exercise led to greater increases in MCAv compared to resistance exercise (Δ9.4±5.9cm/sec Aerobic vs. Δ4.5±7.0cm/sec Resistance; P=0.001), and young participants presented greater increases in MCAv compared to older participants (Δ9.1±6.6cm/sec Young vs. Δ5.2±3.9cm/sec Older; P=0.015), while changes in the other CBF parameters to exercise were similar (P&gt;0.05 for all). In conclusion, aerobic exercise induces greater increases in MCAv compared to resistance exercise, whilst young subjects present greater increases in MCAv during exercise compared to older participants.