Grape juice consumption and/or exercise training-induced neuroplasticity and memory improvement in healthy elderly women

Viviane Rostirola Elsner, Lucieli Trevizol, Luisa Bassôa, Iasmin Fraga, Inês Munhoz, Daniela Pochmann, Caroline Dani
2018 SDRP Journal of Cellular and Molecular Physiology  
Emerging evidences have been pointed out that exercise in combination with dietary factors is able to affect molecular events related to synaptic plasticity and cognitive improvement. Therefore, this study sought to verify the impact of grape juice consumption and/or exercise in plasma neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and memory performance in elderly women. Methods: Nineteen healthy elderly women were randomly distributed in two groups: Grape Juice Group (GJG, n=9) and Grape Juice + Exercise
more » ... roup (GJEG, n=10). The GJG was instructed to drunk daily the grape juice (400 ml) for 30 days, while the GJEG was also submitted to a physical exercise intervention (twice a week, 60 min/session). Memory function was assessed via the MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and blood sampling was taken for BDNF analysis pre/post intervention in both groups. Results: It was observed a significant increase on BDNF levels in GJG (p=0.000) and GJEG (p=0.041) after intervention, while the memory improvement was verified only in GJEG (p=0.024). No differences between groups were found in the variables. Conclusion: In conclusion, the grape juice consumption per se is capable to modulates/increases BDNF levels, response that was not potentiated by exercise practice. On the other hand, the memory performance was improved only when grape juice consumption is combined to exercise intervention in healthy elderly women.
doi:10.25177/jcmp.2.2.3 fatcat:ywh76xhbjzfvdamhpok7h4gi6e