The effects of eight weeks of aerobic training with vitamin C on the expression pathway of antioxidants in the hippocampus tissue of TMT induced Alzheimer's disease rats.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurological disorders and, researchers believe that the impairment of oxidant-antioxidant system plays an important role in its progression. The PI3K/NRF2 pathway has particular importance in increasing the expression of antioxidants. Thus present study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training (AT) with vitamin C (VC) on the expression pathway of antioxidants in the hippocampus tissue of trimethyltin chloride (TMT) induced Alzheimer's Disease Rats. METHODS: In this experimental study, 28 male Sprague-Dawley rats (age 14-16 months, weight 270-320 g) were injected 10 mg/kg TMT and were divided into (1) TMT (n = 7), (2) TMT + VC (n = 7), (3) TMT + AT (n = 7) and (4) TMT + VC + AT (n = 7) groups. Also, 7 healthy rats without any intervention selected as healthy control (HC) group to investigate the effects of TMT on research variables. Groups 3 and 4 ran on the treadmill for eight weeks, for 15-48 min at a speed of 10-24 m/min. Also, groups 2 and 4 received 4 mg/kg VC orally. To measure PI3K, Nrf2, SOD and catalase in the hippocampus tissue of rats, ELISA method were used. To analyze the data, one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post- hoc tests were used (P ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: The hippocampal values of Nrf2 and SOD in TMT + VC, TMT + AT and TMT + VC + AT groups were higher than TMT group (P = 0.001). Catalase in TMT + AT and TMT + VC + AT groups was higher than TMT group (P = 0.001). Also, catalase and PI3K were higher in the TMT + VC + AT group than the TMT + VC group (P = 0.05). PI3K levels of TMT + VC + AT group were higher than TMT + AT group (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: It seems that AT and VC, both alone and in combination, play a role in improving the transcription pathway of antioxidants in the hippocampus tissue of TMT induced Alzheimer's disease Rats. Therefore, the combination of these two interventions is suggested to improve the antioxidant system.

Effect of Wii Fit training on visual perception and executive function in boys with developmental coordination disorders: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This paper elucidated the influence of Wii Fit training on visual perception and executive function in boys with developmental coordination disorders (DCD). METHODS: 50 school boy with DCD (Mean Age = 9.55 ± 2.24) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, Wii Fit training (intervention; n = 25) or usual school program (control; n = 25). Visual perception and executive function were measured pre-, post- (8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, 30 minute per session), using Cognitive Assessment System (CAS) and Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills-Revised (TVPS-R), respectively. Pre- and post-test changes in executive function and visual perception were calculated using one-way ANCOVA, with pre-test values as covariate and post-test values as dependent variables. RESULTS: The findings show that the rates of change in total score of visual perception from pre to post were significantly different between groups (F(1, 47) = 660.76, P = 0.024). Similarly, intervention group showed significantly different rates of change in total score of executive function from pre to post (F (1, 47) = 26.15, P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Findings support that when developing interventions for the improvement or management of visual perception and executive function in children with DCD, key stakeholders should include the Wii Fit training programs.

The comparison of the effects of physical activity and neurofeedback training on postural stability and risk of fall in elderly women: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Study Design: This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Background: Fall and postural instability are common undesirable consequences of the elderly. Although the benefits of exercise for fall prevention have been demonstrated, the majority of the elderly are physically inactive due to several physical and mental limitations they may face. Another alternative treatment such as neurofeedback with providing additional sensory information may enhance movement performance and so decrease the risk of fall. Objectives: To compare the effects of physical activity and neurofeedback training on postural stability and risk of fall in elderly women. Methods: Forty-five physically independent women who were older than 65 years old, living in the Fereshtegan Elderly Care Center in Shiraz, were recruited and randomly divided into three groups including control, physical activity, and neurofeedback training (15 people in each group). Participants in experimental groups trained for 12 weeks (3 days per week/30 minutes per session). Fall risk and postural stability of participants in all three groups were evaluated before and after intervention using the Biodex Balance System. Results: A mixed model design ANOVA comparing neurofeedback training and physical activity exhibited a significantly greater improvement in both risk of fall and postural stability compared to control (P < .05). Results of post-hoc analysis further indicated that neurofeedback training compared to physical activity can be superior beneficial in reducing risk of fall (P = .005) and improving postural stability (P = .005). There were also significant interactions between group and time of fall risk (P = .0005, ηp2 = 0.97) and postural stability (P = .001, ηp2 = 0.79). Conclusion: Both neurofeedback and physical activity could be considered as useful alternative for postural stability and balance improvement in elderly women; however, neurofeedback training was more effective than physical activity.