The effects of motor rehabilitation training on clinical symptoms and serum BDNF levels in Parkinson’s disease subjects

Increasing evidence suggests that motor rehabilitation may delay Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression. Moreover, parallel treatments in animals up-regulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Thus, we investigated the effect of a motor rehabilitation protocol on PD symptoms and BDNF serum levels. Motor rehabilitation training consisted of a cycle of 20 days/month of physiotherapy divided in three daily sessions. Clinical data were collected at the beginning, at the end and at 90 days follow-up. BDNF serum levels were detected by ELISA at 0, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 90 days. The follow up period had a duration of 60 days (T30-T90). The results showed that at the end of the treatment (day 30th), an improvement in extrapyramidal signs (UPDRS III; UPDRS III - Gait and Balance items), motor (6 Minute Walking Test) and daily living activities (UPDRS II; PDQ-39) was observed. BDNF levels were increased at day 7th as compared to baseline. After that, no changes in BDNF were observed during the treatment and in the successive follow-up. This study demonstrates that motor rehabilitation training is able to ameliorate PD symptoms and to increase temporarily BDNF serum levels. The latter effect may potentially contribute to the therapeutic action.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author