Resistance Training Combined With Cognitive Training Increases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Improves Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults

Luz Albany Arcila Castaño; Vivian Castillo de Lima; João Francisco Barbieri; Erick Guilherme Peixoto de Lucena; Arthur Fernandes Gáspari; Hidenori Arai; Camila Vieira Ligo Teixeira; Hélio José Coelho-Júnior; Marco Carlos Uchida

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.870561

Resistance Training Combined With Cognitive Training Increases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Improves Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults

Front Psychol. 2022 Oct 14:13:870561. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.870561. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Luz Albany Arcila Castaño¹, Vivian Castillo de Lima¹, João Francisco Barbieri², Erick Guilherme Peixoto de Lucena¹, Arthur Fernandes Gáspari², Hidenori Arai³, Camila Vieira Ligo Teixeira⁴, Hélio José Coelho-Júnior¹, Marco Carlos Uchida¹

Affiliations

¹ Applied Kinesiology Laboratory, Department of Adapted Physical Activity, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
² Laboratory of Electromyography Studies, Department of Sport Science, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
³ National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi, Japan.
⁴ NIH Biomedical Research Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Abstract

Background: The present study compared the effects of a traditional resistance training (TRT) and resistance training combined with cognitive task (RT + CT) on body composition, physical performance, cognitive function, and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) levels in older adults.

Methods: Thirty community-dwelling older adults were randomized into TRT (70.0 ± 8.1; 25% men) and RT + CT (66.3 ± 4.6; 31% men). Exercise groups performed a similar resistance training (RT) program, twice a week over 16 weeks. Cognitive Training involved performing verbal fluency simultaneously with RT. Exercise sessions (eight resistance exercises) were performed 2-3 sets, 8-15 repetitions at 60%-70% of 1-repetition maximum (1RM). Body composition, physical function, cognitive performance, and BDNF levels were assessed before and after intervention period.

Results: The physical performance was similarly improved in response to both TRT and RT + CT (p = 0.001). However, exclusive improvements on cognitive function (p < 0.001) and BDNF levels (p = 0.001) were observed only after RT + CT.

Conclusion: The RT program associated with a cognitive task, improved physical and cognitive performance in healthy older adults.

Keywords: BDNF; cognitive training; dual task; older adult; resistance training.