Effect Of Exercise On Cognitive Performance And Systemic Bdnf Levels In An Elderly Mexican Population

Abstract

The ageing is a progressive process that reduces the functional abilities that affect the life in humans. Furthermore, studies have indicated that the ageing is associated with morphological changes in the hippocampus, the last condition seem induces cognitive deficiencies. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of a functional exercise training on cognitive performance and systemic BDNF in an elderly Mexican population. METHODS: 19 elderly-healthy participants (Age = 69. 1± 7.5 yr.; body weight (BW) = 74.3 ± 12.8 kg; height = 155 ± 0.7 cm; BMI = 29.7 ± 5.6 kg/m2) were recruited in this study. The subjects were randomly divided in two groups: Control (C; n=11; 10 women; 1 man) and Functional Exercise (FE; n=8; 6 women; 2 men). Before to start the FE program. The physical activity level (PA) and the years of education (YE) were determined in the groups. The PA was not statistically different in the groups (C: 6.24 ± 3.05 vs FE: 8.7 ± 1.49, p= 0.07). The YE was similar between the groups (C: 5.81 ± 1.5 vs FE: 6.9 ± 2.9 yr, p=0.3). After this, the FE program was applied. The protocol consisted in 36 sessions of aerobic and stretching exercises. 24 hours of finished, the exercise program the miminetal test and the 6-minute walking test (6 MWT) was applied in the two groups. The systemic BDNF levels at basal state also were evaluated. RESULTS: The FE walked more distance in the 6MWT compared with C (C: 329.1± 39.6 m vs EF: 844.4 ± 172.6, p< 0.01). The cognitive performance was better in FE with respect to C (C: 21.18±4.2 vs FE: 27.44 ± 0.8 (p<0.01). There was a positive correlation between the distance walked in the 6MWT and the cognitive performance (r=0.68, p<0.01). Finally, FE showed lower systemic BDNF levels than C (C: 18 676 ± 2264 pg/ml vs FE 15 766 ± 2064 pg/ml, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The data of the present study suggest that FE to long-term improved the cognitive performance in older people. However, the last effect was not accompanied with a higher BDNF concentration in the periphery at least in a Mexican population.