Aerobic exercise improves executive functions in females, but not males, without the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism

Abstract

Highlights Aerobic training improves cognitive health and identifying biological moderators of aerobic training will maximize the precision of exercise as medicine for cognitive health. The common BDNFval66met polymorphism and biological sex interact to moderate the cognitive-enhancing effects of aerobic training in older adults with vascular cognitive impairment, with female Val/Val carriers benefitting the most. Future randomized controlled trials of exercise should take into consideration genotype and biological sex of participants

Keywords

• Aerobic exercise
• Executive function
• Sex differences
• Randomized controlled trial
• BDNF Val66Met polymorphism
• Vascular cognitive impairment