Background: High-intensity functional training can be well performed by the elderly; however, the effect of this training on brain-health-related factors has not been studied yet. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity functional training on serum levels of BDNF, IGF-1, and VEGF in elderly men and women.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study included 23 subjects (7 males and 16 females) who were divided into experimental (n=16) and control groups (n=7). The experimental group performed a training protocol consisting of six exercises in three sessions (each session was 25 min) per week for eight weeks. The exercises were performed at all-out intensity for 30 sec. There was a 15-sec rest between each set and a two-min rest between each exercise. Paired samples t-test and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The results showed that the serum levels of BDNF (P=0.0005, +11.37), VEGF (P=0.0005, +7.49), IGF-1 (P=0.001, +3.91), LDL (P=0.004, -3.33), and HDL (P=0.004, +7.48) changed significantly in the experimental group. On the other hand, in the control group, serum levels of BDNF (P=0.149, +1.58), IGF-1 (P=0.486, +0.27), LDL (P=0.897, +0.14), and HDL (P=0.534, +1.10) had no significant changes; however, VEGF (P=0.01, +0.67) significantly changed. The results of ANCOVA showed a significant difference between the two groups regarding all variables (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Eight weeks of high-intensity functional training in elderly men and women increases the serum levels of brain health-related factors. Therefore, functional training is recommended to improve brain function in the elderly.