Randomised Trial on Neuroprotective Effects of Six-Weeks Trx Trainings on Body Flexibilities and Neurotrophic Factors in Aged Women Publisher



Angizeh R ; Nozari T A ; Rezvani F ; Hatami F ; Tahmasebipour N ; Ashabi G ; Salehpour M
Source: Comparative Exercise Physiology Published:2026

Abstract

Age-related physiological declines may lead to neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive disorders that can be modulated by resistance trainings. We investigated the effects of six weeks total body resistance exercises (TRX) on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), flexibility and cardiovascular endurance in elderly women. Twenty-eight healthy women (65.5 ± 4.5 years) were randomly assigned into TRX (n = 15) or control groups (n = 13). The training protocol consisted of six weeks of TRX (two weekly sessions). The participants in the control group were asked to avoid any activities beyond their daily activities. Before and after the study Fullerton Functional Fitness Assessment Tests, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and blood tests were conducted to measure physical fitness and neurotrophic factors, respectively. Data analysis illustrated increases in bFGF ( P < 0.05[jls-end-space/]), GDNF and BDNF ( P < 0.001[jls-end-space/]) in TRX group compared to the control group. TRX group demonstrated improvements in cardiovascular endurance and flexibilities more than the control group ( P < 0.05[jls-end-space/]). Our findings highlight the efficacy of TRX suspension trainings in improving physical fitness and neurotrophic factors through the activation of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α). Therefore, the training protocol can prove benefits for this demographic group. © R. Angizeh et al., 2026. Published with license by Koninklijke Brill BV. This work is published by Koninklijke Brill BV. Koninklijke Brill bv incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Nijhoff, Brill Schoningh, Brill Fink, Brill mentis, Brill Wageningen Academic, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Bohlau and V&R unipress. Koninklijke Brill BV reserves the right to protect the publication against unauthorized use and to authorize dissemination by means of offprints, legitimate photocopies, microform editions, reprints, translations, and secondary information sources, such as abstracting and indexing services including databases. Requests for commercial re-use, use of parts of the publication, and/or translations must be addressed to Koninklijke Brill BV.