Anaerobic Exercise as a Modulator of Microbial Composition and Mental Acuity in Sedentary Men

The human gut microbiome, which houses over 2,000 distinct bacterial species, has recently been characterized as a highly influential force on the health and longevity of its host. By way of several distinct pathways comprising the "microbiome-gut-brain axis", this diverse population is known to communicate with the human brain in a bidirectional manner and is implicated in the pathophysiology of several metabolic and psychological disease states. The ability to support a healthy, diverse microbiome through modifiable behavioral interventions - such as diet and exercise - is a topic of growing interest. Most of the evidence pertaining to the relationship between physical activity and the gut-brain axis at this time, however, investigates the influence of aerobic exercise providing limited insight to how other modalities of physical activity may differ. Specifically, this study will examine the impact of an 8-week weight training protocol on gut microbiome metabolism and neurological health in healthy sedentary men. Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention group or the waitlist control group.