Abstract
Exercise is recognized as a promising approach to counteract aging-associated declines in cognitive functions. However, the exact molecular pathways involved remain unclear. Aerobic training interventions and improvements in peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) have been associated with increases in the peripheral concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and better cognitive performances. However, other training interventions such as resistance training and gross motor skills programs were also linked with improvements in cognitive functions. Thus far, few studies have compared different types of physical exercise training protocols and their impact on BDNF concentrations, especially in participants over 60 years old. The main objective of this study was to compare the effects of three exercise protocols on plasma BDNF concentrations at rest in healthy older adults. Thirty-four older adults were randomized into three interventions: (1) lower body strength and aerobic training (LBS-A), (2) upper body strength and aerobic training (UBS-A), or (3) gross motor activities (GMA). All interventions were composed of 3 weekly sessions over a period of 8 weeks. Physical, biochemical, and cognitive assessments were performed pre and post-intervention. All interventions resulted in improved cognitive functions but the GMA intervention induced a larger increase in plasma BDNF concentrations than LBS-A. No correlation was observed between changes in BDNF concentrations and cognitive performances. These findings suggest that a program of GMA could lead to enhancements in plasma BDNF concentrations. Moreover, cognition improvement could occur without concomitant detectable changes in BDNF, which highlights the multifactorial nature of the exercise-cognition relationship in older adults.
Highlights
Studies support the benefits of physical exercise on cognition in older adults (Kramer and Colcombe, 2018)
gross motor activities (GMA) participants’ performance level was lower than both lower body strength and aerobic training (LBS-A) and upper body strength and aerobic training (UBS-A) groups in some neuropsychological tests, including Digit-span forward and backward, Stroop inhibition and flexibility, but all results remained within healthy thresholds based on their age group normative data (Strauss et al, 2006)
The magnitude of the pre-post difference was considered small for turning point index (g = 0.443, 0.227, 0.399 for LBS-A, UBS-A, and GMA, respectively) and for adjacency index (g = −0.547, −0.171, −0.334 for LBS-A, UBS-A, and GMA, respectively)
Summary
Studies support the benefits of physical exercise on cognition in older adults (Kramer and Colcombe, 2018). Mediators of this relationship can include cellular and molecular changes, structural and functional brain adaptations (Stillman et al, 2016). Exercise-mediated augmentation of growth factors, such as the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), could play an important role. While BDNF is found throughout the entire brain, higher concentrations are reported in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum (Murer et al, 2001; Erickson et al, 2012). Older adults presenting higher plasma BDNF concentrations perform better on executive functions and verbal fluency tests and show less functional impairments (Vaughan et al, 2014; Navarro-Martinez et al, 2015)
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