Comparison of the effects of open vs. closed skill exercise on the acute and chronic BDNF, IGF-1 and IL-6 response in older healthy adults

Abstract

Background: Accumulating evidence shows that physical exercise has a positive effect on the release of neurotrophic factors and myokines. However, evidence regarding the optimal type of physical exercise for these release is still lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the acute and chronic effects of open-skill exercise (OSE) compared to closed-skill exercise (CSE) on serum and plasma levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF_S, BDNF_P), and serum levels of insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in healthy older adults.

Methods: To investigate acute effects, thirty-eight participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention (badminton (aOSE) and bicycling (aCSE), n = 24, 65.83 ± 5.98 years) or control group (reading (CG), n = 14, 67.07 ± 2.37 years). Blood samples were taken immediately before and 5 min after each condition. During each condition, heart rate was monitored. The mean heart rate of aOSE and aCSE were equivalent (65 ± 5% of heart rate reserve). In a subsequent 12-week training-intervention, twenty-two participants were randomly assigned to either a sport-games (cOSE, n = 6, 64.50 ± 6.32) or a strength-endurance training (cCSE, n = 9, 64.89 ± 3.51) group to assess for chronic effects. Training intensity for both groups was adjusted to a subjective perceived exertion using the CR-10 scale (value 7). Blood samples were taken within one day after the training-intervention.

Results: BDNF_S, BDNF_P, IGF-1, and IL-6 levels increased after a single exercise session of 30 min. After 12 weeks of training BDNF_S and IL-6 levels were elevated, whereas IGF-1 levels were reduced in both groups. However, only in the cOSE group these changes were significant. We could not find any significant differences between the exercise types.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that both exercise types are efficient to acutely increase BDNF_S, BDNF_P, IGF-1 and IL-6 serum levels in healthy older adults. Additionally, our results tend to support that OSE is more effective for improving basal BDNF_S levels after 12 weeks of training.

Keywords: Aging; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); Closed skill exercise; Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1); Interleukin-6 (IL-6); Open skill exercise.