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, VEGF165, 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.
Acknowledgments
We are thankful to Clarice Sibuya from UNESP for technical aid, CAPES PDSE 99999.010743/2014-06, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) PDJ 153874/2018-0; Núcleo UNESP-UNATI; Physical activity and the aging lab (LAFE) and Programa de Cinesioterapia Funcional e Cognitiva em Idosos com doença de Alzheimer (PRO-CDA) for support. The English text of this paper has been revised by Sidney Pratt, Canadian, MAT (The Johns Hopkins University), RSAdip - TESL (Cambridge University).
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Correction Statement
This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.