The effectiveness and safety of high-intensity interval training, yoga and intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia exposure on cognitive performance and health in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (KAYH): a study protocol for a randomized, sham-controlled trial

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) carries an increased risk of progressing to dementia, and no curative pharmacological therapies currently exist. This study protocol outlines a prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, single-center superiority trial with a parallel-group design to evaluate nonpharmacological interventions for cognitive performance. A total of 100 patients aged 60 years and older with MCI will be randomized to one of three intervention groups—high-intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga, or intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia exposure (IHHE)—or to a control group receiving sham IHHE (IHHE-S).

The primary outcome is cognitive function after a 3-month intervention period, measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, laboratory data, physical activity, anthropometric data, and cardiorespiratory fitness, which also serve as evaluations of modifiable dementia risk factors. Harms and adverse events will be systematically recorded at each study visit. The protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of the University of Tuebingen (494/2025BO1). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences and to stakeholders. This trial will provide evidence on whether these accessible lifestyle-based interventions can improve cognition in MCI and potentially reduce dementia risk.