BDNF mediates improvement in cognitive performance after computerized cognitive training in healthy older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The often-cited mechanism linking brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to cognitive health has received limited experimental study. There is evidence that cognitive training, physical exercise, and mindfulness meditation may improve cognition. Here, we investigated whether improvements in cognition after these three types of structured interventions are facilitated by increases in BDNF.

Methods

A total of 144 heathy older adults completed a 5-week intervention involving working memory/cognitive training, physical exercise, mindfulness meditation, or an active control condition. Serum BDNF levels and Digit Symbol Test (DST) performance were measured pre- and post-intervention.

Results

Linear mixed models suggested that only the cognitive training group

SUBMITTER: Nicastri CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9428279 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature