The effects of motor rehabilitation training on clinical symptoms and serum BDNF levels in Parkinson’s disease subjects

• Published in: Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology Vol. 94; no. 4; pp. 455 - 461
• Main Authors: Angelucci, Francesco, Piermaria, Jacopo, Gelfo, Francesca, Shofany, Jacob, Tramontano, Marco, Fiore, Marco, Caltagirone, Carlo, Peppe, Antonella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada NRC Research Press 01.04.2016; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; BDNF; Brain; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - blood; Care and treatment; exercice physique; Female; Gait - physiology; Humans; maladie de Parkinson; Male; Mental health care; Middle Aged; Motor Activity - physiology; motor rehabilitation; Parkinson Disease - blood; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson's disease; Patient outcomes; physical exercise; Physical therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physiological aspects; Rehabilitation; rééducation motrice; Teaching; Therapeutics, Physiological; Up-Regulation - physiology; Canada; exercice physique; BDNF; rééducation motrice; maladie de Parkinson; motor rehabilitation; physical exercise; Parkinson’s disease
• ISSN: 0008-4212; 1205-7541; 1205-7541
• DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2015-0322

Increasing evidence suggests that motor rehabilitation may delay Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression. Moreover, parallel treatments in animals up-regulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Thus, we investigated the effect of a motor rehabilitation protocol on PD symptoms and BDNF serum levels. Motor rehabilitation training consisted of a cycle of 20 days/month of physiotherapy divided in 3 daily sessions. Clinical data were collected at the beginning, at the end, and at 90 days follow-up. BDNF serum levels were detected by ELISA at 0, 7, 14, 21, 30, and 90 days. The follow-up period had a duration of 60 days (T30–T90). The results showed that at the end of the treatment (day 30), an improvement in extrapyramidal signs (UPDRS III; UPDRS III – Gait and Balance items), motor (6 Minute Walking Test), and daily living activities (UPDRS II; PDQ-39) was observed. BDNF levels were increased at day 7 as compared with baseline. After that, no changes in BDNF were observed during the treatment and in the successive follow-up. This study demonstrates that motor rehabilitation training is able to ameliorate PD symptoms and to increase temporarily BDNF serum levels. The latter effect may potentially contribute to the therapeutic action.