{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T12:06:59Z","timestamp":1791893219446,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,9]],"date-time":"2025-08-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754697600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o de Amparo \u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG\u2014Research Support Foundation of the State of Minas Gerais), Demanda Universal grant","award":["APQ-00592-15"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["APQ-00592-15"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Physical exercise has been linked to improvements in motor and cognitive functions as well as to the modulation of neurotrophic and inflammatory factors, particularly in older adults. This aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week multimodal exercise program on cognitive function, motor performance, and plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cytokines in elderly individuals with Alzheimer\u2019s disease (AD). Methods: A non-randomized controlled trial design was employed, involving 23 participants aged 62 to 85 years diagnosed with mild to moderate AD. The intervention group (n = 7) attended 60-minute sessions three times per week, incorporating aerobic, strength, flexibility, and motor coordination exercises, while the control group (n = 8) maintained usual activities. Methods: A non-randomized controlled trial design was used, involving 23 participants aged 62 to 85 years. Of these, 15 had a clinical diagnosis of mild to moderate AD and were allocated to either an intervention group (n = 7) or and AD control group (n = 8). The remaining eight participants were cognitively healthy and formed a control group matched for age and sex, used exclusively for baseline comparisons. The intervention group participated in 60-minute sessions three times per week, including aerobic, strength, flexibility, and motor coordination exercises. The AD control group (n = 8) maintained their usual daily routines. Results: Compared to baseline, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in executive and attentional functions, as measured by the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and Clock Drawing Test (CDT); mobility, balance, gait speed, and lower limb strength also improved (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, plasma BDNF levels increased significantly, and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels decreased. Conclusions: In conclusion, the multimodal exercise program resulted in cognitive and motor benefits and positively modulated biomarkers related to neuroplasticity and inflammation, supporting its potential as a complementary intervention in elderly individuals with AD.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22081245","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,11]],"date-time":"2025-08-11T08:10:32Z","timestamp":1754899832000},"page":"1245","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Benefits of Multimodal Exercise Intervention for BDNF and Cytokines Levels, Cognitive Function, and Motor Functionality in Alzheimer\u2019s Disease: A Preliminary Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2488-925X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emmanuel Dias de Sousa","family":"Lopes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Research in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38061-500, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fl\u00e1via Gomes de Melo","family":"Coelho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Research in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38061-500, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sheilla","family":"Tribess","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Research in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38061-500, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6542-7406","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jonatas da Silva","family":"Catarino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-350, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bruno Naves","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Research in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38061-500, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marina de Melo","family":"Reis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Research in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38061-500, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9112-2585","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ant\u00f4nio Ribeiro","family":"Neto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Research in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38061-500, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2211-7333","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlo Jos\u00e9 Freire","family":"Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-350, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jair Sindra","family":"Virtuoso J\u00fanior","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Research in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Tri\u00e2ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38061-500, Minas Gerais, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alzheimer\u2019s Association (2024). 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