Exercise-induced Release of Cytokines/Myokines in a Single Exercise Test before and after a Training Intervention in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: Inflammation may play an important role in development of mild cognitive impairment and also predict progression of cognitive diseases. Studies have shown that aerobic and strength training increases the ability to generate and secrete cytokines from the skeletal muscles (then named myokines) that might be protective. Objectives: This pilot study was intended to explore if it is possible to detect changes in cytokine/myokine levels in response to a single exercise test in patients with mild cognitive impairment before and after a training intervention. Participants and Methods: Participants with mild cognitive impairment (N=33) performed12 weeks aerobic and strength endurance training at moderate (n=13), at high intensity (n=12) or served as control group with no training (n=8). At baseline and after 12 weeks a single maximal exercise test was performed where 2 venous blood samples were collected respectively, one at rest and one at maximal workload. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL -8 were assayed using commercial ELISA kits. Results: Resting values of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, or IL -8 at base line and post training were normal compared to reference values for all patients. At baseline, a single exercise test elevated levels of the myokines, IL-6 (p= 0.002), TNF-α (p