12-Week Aerobic Interval Training Boosts Neuroplasticity and Motor Function in Parkinson’s Disease: Insights From BDNF,[ 18 F]Fluorodopa PET/CT,and EEG
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online November, 2025
12-Week Aerobic Interval Training Boosts Neuroplasticity and Motor Function in Parkinson’s Disease: Insights From BDNF,[ 18 F]Fluorodopa PET/CT,and EEG
Animal models suggest that intensive physical training may promote neuroplasticity in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but its effects in humans remain underexplored.
Objectives
To investigate the effects of aerobic interval training (AIT) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, striatal [18F]fluorodopa positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) uptake ([18F]DOPAPET/CT), electroencephalography (EEG), and motor function, and to explore their interrelations.
Methods
Thirty PD patients were randomly assigned to a 12-week moderate-intensity AIT group (PD Training Group [PD-TR], n = 15) or a non-training group (PD Non-Training Group, n = 15). Pre- and post-intervention assessments included BDNF levels, striatal [18F]DOPAPET/CT, EEG during motor task-evoked desynchronization (ERDMT) and rest-evoked synchronization (ERSREST) in primary motor cortex (M1) and supplementary motor area (SMA), and motor function assessed using the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III and the Manual Bradykinesia Score for the Affected Upper Extremity (MBS-AUE) calculated as the sum of UPDRS items 3.4 to 3.6.
Results
The PD-TR group showed increased BDNF levels (P < .001) and improved motor scores (UPDRS III and MBS-AUE; P < .05). Both groups exhibited increased EEG-ERSREST M1 (P < .05) over time, with no changes in striatal [18F]DOPAPET/CT uptake. Significant group differences were observed in correlations between changes (Δ = POST minus PRE) in: ΔBDNF with Δ[18F] DOPAPET/CT uptake in the putamen and ΔEEG-ERDMT M1 (P < .001); Δ[18F]DOPAPET/CT uptake in the putamen with Δ[18F]DOPAPET/CT uptake in the caudate and ΔEEG-ERSREST SMA (P < .05); ΔMBS-AUE scores with ΔEEG-ERSREST SMA (P < .001).
Conclusions
Twelve-week AIT enhanced BDNF levels and motor function in PD-TR, with central nervous system neuroplasticity supporting motor recovery.
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