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conferenceseries.com
Volume 7, Issue 6 (Suppl) J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism, an open access journal
ISSN: 2161-0460 Dementia 2017
October 16-18, 2017
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE & DEMENTIA
October 16-18, 2017 | Rome, Italy
9th International Conference on
Challenging the neuroprotective potential of physical exercise: Insights into plasticity-related
mechanisms in the aging brain
Yulia Lerner
Tel Aviv University, Israel
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer disease (AD). To date, therapeutic approaches to AD
are symptomatic and of modest efficacy. Nonetheless, studies in animal and human populations suggested that physical
training results in structural and functional brain changes. The current project aims at exploring brain mechanisms mediating
the neuroprotective effect of different types of physical exercise among patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI). Specifically, we
performed a comprehensive study to examine the effect of aerobic and non-aerobic training. Neuropsychological evaluations,
assessment of neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and fMRI have been performed before the
physical training and following the intervention. 24 participants suffering of aMCI carried out their activity routines 3 d/wk
during 4 months under supervision of an experienced trainer. Inter-SC and GLM methods have been used for data analysis.
Following intensive individual training, we found improvement in memory and executive functions in both physical training
groups. In the fMRI, we found reliable responses in regions that are related to higher order processing of information: temporo-
parietal junction, marginal and supramarginal gyri, frontal areas. Hippocampal activation in memory encoding task increased
following aerobic intervention. Increased BDNF was correlated with improved cognition, with no association with the type of
exercise. The physical training results in functional and structural changes in a-MCI. Our findings demonstrated that cognitive
performance can be affected by exercise of both types. The insights gained from the study may have important scientific value
and clinical implications for individuals at the early stages of AD.
Biography
Yulia Lerner has completed her PhD at the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1994. Then she has been trained as a neuroscientist and conducted fruitful research
at the New York University and Princeton University. Currently, she is a PI in the Neurocognitive lab at the Functional Brain Center, in the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical
Center. She has performed numerous cutting-edge studies that were published in first-rate journals.
Yulia Lerner, J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2017, 7:6(Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2161-0460-C1-034