FIGURE 1.

An overview of the study design. The study procedure included three parts: pretest (Pretest), a 12-week training period (Intervention) and posttest (Posttest). Both pre- and posttests were preceded with 1 week of participant physical activity level measurements (Accelerometry) using a lightweight triaxial accelerometer worn on the hip during the day. However, physical activity measurements during the final week of training period are not depicted in the figure. A cardiorespiratory fitness test (Fitness Assessment) and an assessment of acute changes in BDNF concentration (BDNF Assessment) were performed in the morning (a.m.) for both pre- and posttests. The fitness assessment was performed 48 h prior to the BDNF assessment. During the week of pre- and posttest, 3 afternoon (p.m.) sessions included a cognitive assessment (Cognitive Assessment). During the intervention period, participants performed a training session every second weekday of either: cognitive exercise only (CE), physical exercise only (PE), cognitive exercise followed by physical exercise (CE + PE) or physical exercise followed by cognitive exercise (PE + CE), according to their allocated intervention. Each training visit started with 15 min of seated rest (Rest). M, Monday; Tu, Tuesday; W, Wednesday; Th, Thursday; F, Friday.