title: Effect of six weeks of endurance exercise and following detraining on serum brain derived neurotrophic factor and memory performance in middle aged males with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and physical inactivity contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Aerobic training has been reported to improve MetS, however less attention has been directed toward the role of training and detraining on cognitive function in MetS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty one healthy middle-aged males and 21 with MetS were distributed into four groups: MetS exercise (ME), MetS control (MC), Healthy exercise (HE) and healthy control (HC). Both ME and HE, followed a 6-week aerobic training program (3 sessions/week). Digit Span memory test and blood sampling were conducted pre training, post training and also following a six weeks detraining. Data were analyzed using spearman, pearson and repeated measure ANOVA tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline serum BDNF level was positively correlated with waist circumference (r=0.383, P=0.012) and showed significant elevation in MetS compared with healthy subjects (1101.66±61.34 vs. 903.72±46.57 pg/mL, P=0.014). After aerobic exercise BDNF level significantly increased in HE, but decreased in ME group (P=0.001). Both short and mid term memory significantly increased (P<0.05) only in HE group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise induced cognitive improvement might be mediated via BDNF-linked mechanisms in healthy people. However, the health status of individuals should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Cellelar and Molecular Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences Rasht, Iran - damirchi@guilan.ac.ir.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Babaei
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azali Alamdari
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soltani Tehrani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Damirchi
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor