Comparison of Single Bout of Moderate and High Intensity Interval Exercise on Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor and Working Memory in Young Adult Females

Objectives

The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of Moderate-Intensity Exercise (MIE) and High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIE) on serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels and Working Memory (WM) in young adult females and to compare the effect of MIE with that of HIIE on serum BDNF and WM.

Methodology

This study was conducted in the Physiology Department, Khyber Girls Medical College Peshawar. Young adult females (n=22), with a mean age of 20 ± 2 years were recruited for two experimental sessions of MIE and HIIE, respectively. Baseline and post exercise blood samples were taken for determination of serum BDNF level and Backward Digit Span Test (BDST) for assessment of working memory in both sessions.

Results

Serum BDNF levels pre and post MIE were 707 ± 448 pg/ml and 829 ± 476 p g/ml (p=0.009) respectively while pre and post HIIE were 785 ± 329 pg /ml and 1116 ± 379 p g/ml (p<0.001) respectively. MIE raised BDNF by 67% while HIIE caused 116% rise. BDST scores were significantly high at post intervention for both MIE (p=0.004) and HIIE (p< 0.001).

Conclusions

Serum BDNF level for MIE and HIIE at post- exercise showed significant increase. In addition, BDST scores for WM were significantly high for MIE and HIIE at post-exercise analysis.

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