Aging and regular exercise may have opposite effects on brain health, and although oxidative stress and sirtuins may be involved in these effects, studies on this topic are limited. Accordingly, the present study aimed to verify the effect of exercise training on oxidant-antioxidant balance, neurotrophic factors, blood-brain barrier permeability, and sirtuins in young-old and old-old women. The study participants were 12 women aged 65-74 years (Young-Old group) and 12 women aged 75-84 years (Old-Old group). All of the selected participants performed exercise training consisting of treadmill walking and resistance band exercise three times a week for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected before and after exercise training to analyze serum oxidant-antioxidant markers (reactive oxygen species [ROS], superoxide dismutase [SOD]), neurotrophic factor (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) levels, and blood-brain barrier permeability marker (S100 calcium-binding protein β [S100β], matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9]) levels, and sirtuin (SIRT-1, SIRT-2, SIRT-3) levels. The Young-Old group showed significantly increased SOD, BDNF, VEGF, SIRT-1, and SIRT-3 levels after training in comparison with the levels before training (p < 0.05), and a significantly higher BDNF level than the Old-Old group after training (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the Old-Old group showed significantly higher SIRT-1 levels after training in comparison with the levels before training (p < 0.05). Thus, exercise training may be effective in increasing the levels of neurotropic factors and reducing blood-brain barrier permeability in the elderly women, and increased antioxidant capacity and elevated levels of sirtuins are believed to play a major role in these effects. The positive effect of exercise may be greater in participants of relatively young age.
Keywords: blood–brain barrier; elderly; exercise; neurotrophin; oxidative stress; sirtuin.