Computerized cognitive training and brain derived neurotrophic factor during bed rest: mechanisms to protect individual during acute stress

Abstract

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.

Loss of maximal explosive power of lower limbs after 2 weeks of disuse and incomplete recovery after retraining in older adults

“…) as well as suppression of the increase in plasma BDNF concentration (Passaro et al . ) have been observed after bed rest in the older individuals enrolled in the present study who were exposed to cognitive training. However, cognitive training did not lead to any mitigation of BR‐induced loss of muscle mass and power, as also reported by Passaro et al .…”

“…However, cognitive training did not lead to any mitigation of BR‐induced loss of muscle mass and power, as also reported by Passaro et al . (), who additionally analysed the correlation between variations of explosive power and BDNF plasma levels.…”

“…), and significantly modulated plasma BDNF levels (Passaro et al . ). On the other hand, Pisot et al .…”

Orthostatic Intolerance in Older Persons: Etiology and Countermeasures

“…Improved cognitive functioning was shown to be further effective in positively affecting functional performance parameters (e.g., improved dual-task walking condition and reduced gait variability, Marusic et al, 2015 ), which could potentially reduce number of falls following prolonged bedrest, especially in older persons. Recently, a neuroprotective mechanism of CCT has been proposed by Passaro et al ( 2017 ), showing as an unaltered plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) only in the CCT group during bedrest. The control group of older adults (who did not do any CCT during bedrest), on the other hand, showed a significant increase in BDNF level at the end of bedrest (Passaro et al, 2017 ), which was further interpreted as protective overshooting of the brain to counteract bedrest-related negative effects (Soavi et al, 2016 ; Passaro et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Recently, a neuroprotective mechanism of CCT has been proposed by Passaro et al ( 2017 ), showing as an unaltered plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) only in the CCT group during bedrest. The control group of older adults (who did not do any CCT during bedrest), on the other hand, showed a significant increase in BDNF level at the end of bedrest (Passaro et al, 2017 ), which was further interpreted as protective overshooting of the brain to counteract bedrest-related negative effects (Soavi et al, 2016 ; Passaro et al, 2017 ). Additionally, CCT provided during bedrest confinement also led to a prevention of decreases in vascular function changes in the older persons group during the bedrest confinement (Goswami et al, 2015 ).…”