Background: Lot of studies analyzed the effect of physical activity on cognitive performance in healthy subjects, but no consensus was established. In cardiac diseases, which have been associated to a cognitive impairment, research of improvement of cognition assumes a clinical interest.

Design: We assessed the effect of acute exercise and of exercise training on cognitive functions among patients with CAD and HF participating to a cardiovascular rehabilitation program.

Methods: Twenty-four men (mean age=51.6+/-6.5 years) participated in the study. They completed 2 experimental sessions, before and after exercise training. During each one, they underwent cognitive evaluations at rest, and during exercise on cycloergometer (30% of maximal power). Two kinds of cognitive evaluations were used, an exclusively cognitive test (arithmetic test, memory test,[horizontal ellipsis]) and a tracking task, including motor precision.

Results: Acute exercise improved tracking performance in the first experimental session (before exercise training). After exercise training, it also improved cognitive performances. Exercise training improved both performances at rest, but only cognitive performances during exercise and finally improved the positive effect of acute exercise on cognitive performances.

Conclusions: In a population with cardiac diseases, limits exist concerning positive effect of acute exercise on cognitive functions, but this study provides evidence for improvement of cognitive functions with cardiac rehabilitation training program.