Effect of exercise training intensity on vascular health during late perimenopause

This study aims to compare the effects of a 3 sessions a week, 12-week high-intensity interval training (4x4 HIIT: 5 min warmup, 4 x 4min at 85%-95% max HR with 3 min of rest, 5 min cool down, total ~35 min) on brain and systemic vascular function in healthy late perimenopausal women against an energy matched moderate-intensity interval training ( 6.5x4 MIIT: 5 min warmup, 4 x 6.5min at 65%-75% max HR with 3 min of rest, 5 min cool down, total ~45 min) and non-exercising time control group. This will be investigated as a randomized controlled trial at the University of Queensland. Participants will be randomized into either a 4x4 HIIT, an energy-matched MIIT or a time-control group. Measures of brain and peripheral vascular function, arterial stiffness, hormone levels, vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes), cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition, will be taken prior, during, and following the intervention. Exercise sessions will be conducted in small groups (<=6 at a time) prescribedand supervised by at least one trained exercise physiologists at the University of Queensland. During these exercise sessions participants will only be asked to conduct the prescribed cycling exercise (HIIT and MIIT as described above). Adherance will be monitered via attendance checklists and exercise training data.