title: Effects of physical exercise on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and depressive symptoms in elderly women--a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of 2 standardized exercise programs, muscle strength exercises (SE) and aerobic exercises (AE), on the plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and depressive symptoms in 451 elderly women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Belo Horizonte/MG-Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling older women (N=451; age, 65-89y).
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were divided into 2 groups: SE and AE. Both protocols lasted 10 weeks, and 30 sessions (1-h sessions) in total were performed 3 times a week under the direct supervision of physical therapists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of BDNF (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference for BDNF plasma levels between the SE and AE groups (P=.009). Post hoc analysis revealed a pre-post intervention difference in BDNF levels only for the SE group (P=.008). A statistically significant difference was found for the pre- and postintervention Geriatric Depression Scale scores in both groups (P=.001), showing that the effects of both exercise protocols were comparable regarding depressive symptoms (P=.185).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings have demonstrated the positive effect of muscle strengthening and aerobic intervention on depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elderly women. Interestingly, only SE significantly increased the plasma levels of BDNF in our sample. The positive effects of physical exercise on depressive symptoms in the elderly were not mediated by BDNF.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Reabilitação, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. daniele.sirineu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniele S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Bárbara Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: de Queiroz
authors.forename: Aline S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Natália P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Diogo C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Felício
authors.forename: Elvis C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favero
authors.forename: Fernanda M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Fabianna
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jesus-Moraleida
authors.forename: Danielle A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gomes Pereira
authors.forename: Antonio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Leani S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Máximo Pereira
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
keywords: AE; BDNF; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Depression; Elderly; Exercise; GDS; Geriatric Depression Scale; RM; Rehabilitation; Repetition Maximum; SE; aerobic exercises; brain-derived neurotrophic factor; muscle exercises