Computerized cognitive training and brain derived neurotrophic factor during bed rest: mechanisms to protect individual during acute stress.
Acute stress, as bed rest, was shown to increase plasma level of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in older, but not in young adults. This increase might represent a protective mechanism towards acute insults in aging subjects. Since computerized cognitive training (CCT) is known to protect brain, herein we evaluated the effect of CCT during bed rest on BDNF, muscle mass, neuromuscular function and metabolic parameters. The subjects that underwent CCT did not show an increase of BDNF after bed rest, and showed an anti-insular modification pattern in metabolism. Neuromuscular function parameters, already shown to beneficiate from CCT, negatively correlated with BDNF in research participants undergoing CCT, while positively correlated in the control group. In conclusion, BDNF increase can be interpreted as a standardized protective mechanism taking place whenever an insult occurs; it gives low, but consistent preservation of neuromuscular function. CCT, acting as an external protective mechanism, seems to modify this standardized response, avoiding BDNF increase or possibly modifying its time course. Our results suggest the possibility of differential neuroprotective mechanisms among ill and healthy individuals, and the importance of timing in determining the effects of protective mechanisms.
Medical Science Department, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy.|Co-first authors.
Angelina
A
Passaro
Medical Science Department, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy.|Co-first authors.
Cecilia
C
Soavi
Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska, Koper 6000, Slovenia.
Uros
U
Marusic
Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Enrico
E
Rejc
Medical Science Department, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
Juana M
JM
Sanz
Medical Science Department, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
Mario L
ML
Morieri
Medical Science Department, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
Edoardo Dalla
ED
Nora
Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.|Biomedical Research and Innovative Society, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia.
Voyko
V
Kavcic
School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health, University of Nottingham, Derby DE22 3NE, UK.
Marco V
MV
Narici
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131 Italy.
Carlo
C
Reggiani
Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste 34149, Italy.
Gianni
G
Biolo
Medical Science Department, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Zuliani
Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy.|School of Sport Sciences, University of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy.
Stefano
S
Lazzer
Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska, Koper 6000, Slovenia.
Rado
R
Pišot
D001510:Bed Rest; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL
BDNF; acute stress; aging; bed rest; cognitive training; metabolism