Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single session moderate-intensity treadmill exercise on serum levels brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its precursors (proBDNF) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). 

Background: Studies have been showed that BDNF decreased in PD and correlated with non-motor and motor symptoms. Therefore it is important elucidated interventions that improve the BDNF levels. 

Methods: Patients were recruited from the outpatient Movement Disorders Clinic and completed a demographic and health status questionnaire. They responded to the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The subjects were instructed to walking on a treadmill and to increase the speed during the first fifteen minutes to reach the target heart rate training zone (60-65%, moderate intensity). So, they had to walk for another fifteen minutes in this intensity. Finally, they had to decrease the speed in the last five minutes to cool. Blood samples were collected before and after session. The measurement of the concentration of BDNF was performed using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. 

Results: Thirty PD patients (24 men, 63.8±9.9 years old) were able to be reached the target heart zone training. Patients with a typical onset PD had mild to moderate impairment (UPDRS, 51.1±13.9) and mean disease duration of 6.0 (±3.5) years. There were increased on proBDNF (p<0.001) and BDNF (p=0.041) serum levels after a single session of treadmill. However, there wasn’t a correlation between the serum levels of proBDNF and BDNF with other demographic and clinical features.

Conclusions:

To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to evaluate the effect of acute aerobic exercise at moderate intensity in treadmill on BDNF serum levels and its precursors in PD patients. Our results showed that the protocol used was able to increase these biological variables. These results are important considering the roles of BDNF in nervous system. In PD, the increase in BDNF concentrations can promote a protective effect on dopaminergic neurons and contribute to maintenance basal ganglia function.

References: He YY, Zhang XY, Yung WH, et al. Role of BDNF in central motor structures and motor diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2013; 48: 783-793.  Szuhany KL, Bugatti M, Otto MW. A meta-analytic review of the effects of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor. J Psychiatr Res 2015; 60: 56-64.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-single-aerobic-exercise-session-of-treadmill-increases-bdnf-levels-in-parkinsons-disease-patients/