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Effects of Different Exercise Modalities on Interleukin-6, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, and Cognitive Function
Kun-Ho Lee1, Chan Yang Kim2, Yun-A Shin2
1Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Doowon Technical University, Paju, Korea.
Background:
This study examined the effects of different exercise modalities on body composition, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and cognitive function in obese older women.
Methods:
A total of 54 women aged ≥65 years were randomized to the control (CON), aerobic aquatic exercise (AAE), aerobic dance exercise (ADE), or combined aerobic and resistance exercise (AE+RE) groups.
Results:
Significant time-by-group interactions were observed for body weight (BW), body fat percentage (%BF), IL-6, and Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) scores. The AAE and ADE groups showed significant reductions in BW and %BF, and fat-free mass increased only in the AAE group (P<0.01). brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increased in the AAE and ADE groups (both P<0.01), whereas IL-6 decreased in both groups (ADE, P<0.05; AAE, P<0.01). MMSE-K scores improved in all exercise groups, with scores in the AE+RE and AAE groups significantly higher than those in the CON group (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively).
Conclusion:
Moderate-intensity aquatic and dance-based aerobic exercise over 12 weeks improved both metabolic health and cognitive function in obese older women and was accompanied by reductions in IL-6 and increases in BDNF.
