Aerobic Training and Circulating Neurotrophins in Alzheimer's Disease Patients: A Controlled Trial

Angelica Miki Stein; Flávia Gomes de Melo Coelho; Thays Martins Vital-Silva; André Veloso Rueda; Jessica Rodrigues Pereira; Andréa Camaz Deslandes; Rosana Camarini; Ruth Ferreira Santos Galduróz

doi:10.1080/0361073X.2022.2048586

Aerobic Training and Circulating Neurotrophins in Alzheimer's Disease Patients: A Controlled Trial

Exp Aging Res. 2023 Jan-Feb;49(1):1-17. doi: 10.1080/0361073X.2022.2048586. Epub 2022 Mar 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ The Human Performance Research Group, UTFPR: Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Curitiba,PR BRAZIL.
² Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, UFTM: Universidade Federal do Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil.
³ Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, USP: Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ Institute of Biosciences, UNESP: Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
⁶ Institute of Psychiatry, UFRJ: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
⁷ Center of Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, UFABC: Universidade Federal do ABC, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁸ Ufabc: Universidade Federal Do Abc, Santo André/SP Brazil.

PMID: 35253623
DOI: 10.1080/0361073X.2022.2048586

Abstract

Objective: to verify the effects of aerobic exercise training in circulating BDNF, VEGF₁₆₅ and IGF-1 plasma levels and cognitive function in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients.

Methods: 34 AD patients participated in the study, divided in two groups: Control Group (CG; n = 16) and Training Group (TG; n = 18 - Moderate aerobic training on the treadmill, three times a week, for 12 weeks). BDNF, VEGF_165, and IGF-1 plasma levels were considered as a primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included cognitive functions and aerobic fitness.

Results: After 12 weeks, maintenance of executive functioning in the TG was found, yet no significant changes on circulating neurotrophins levels were identified. For aerobic fitness, there was an increment in TG group.

Conclusion: Twelve weeks of aerobic training were neither effective in improving cognitive functioning significantly, nor influential on circulating neurotrophins levels in AD patients.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aging
Alzheimer Disease*
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Exercise Therapy
Humans
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Substances

Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor