Excessive expression of cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines exerts a negative affect on cognitive functioning and hippocampal structure in older adults. Although the interrelation between cortisol and cytokines was fully elucidated previously, few studies considered how their association with exercise can affect brain structures or play an anti-inflammatory role in preserving cognitive function among older adults. To evaluate both the neuro-protective and anti-inflammatory activities of moderate aerobic exercise in improving cognitive performance among healthy older adults, the serum levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and cortisol and their correlation with cognitive performance were estimated in all participants. A total of 60 healthy older adults aged 50-85 years were included in this study. The Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) test, colorimetric testing, and ELISA immunoassays were used to measure cognitive abilities; blood sugar; and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cortisol, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, respectively, in older adults before and after 12-week exercise interventions. Exactly 50% of the participants showed moderate cognitive impairment (MCI) (LOTCA scores: 84.8 ± 8.2), and the remaining 50% of the participants (n = 30) were diagnosed as normal healthy subjects (LOTCA scores: 98.7 ± 8.1). There was a significant association between cognitive decline in LOTCA scores of motor praxis, vasomotor organization, thinking operations, and attention and concentration and higher levels of cortisol, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as adiposity markers BMI and WHR, in the MCI group compared to control subjects. However, significant improvements in the same LOTCA score domains in MCI subjects were recorded along with decrements in the levels of cortisol and cytokine CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as improved adiposity markers, following a 12-week moderate exercise program. Cognitive performance correlated positively with cortisol levels and negatively with physical activity, adiposity markers, and cytokine levels. Also, in participants with normal and abnormal cortisol profiles, there was a positive interrelation between cytokine levels and cortisol. Moderate aerobic exercise for 12 weeks showed beneficial effects on cognitive performance in older adults. Our results suggest that 12 weeks of aerobic exercise improves cognitive disorders in older adults via modulating stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This may have been due to significant changes in the levels of cortisol, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, and physical activity may thus be used as non-drug strategy for treating cognitive disorders.

中文翻译：

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适度的有氧训练可调节具有认知能力的老年人的细胞因子和皮质醇谱

皮质醇和促炎细胞因子的过度表达对老年人的认知功能和海马结构产生负面影响。虽然皮质醇和细胞因子之间的相互关系在之前已经完全阐明，但很少有研究考虑它们与运动的关联如何影响大脑结构或在保持老年人认知功能方面发挥抗炎作用。为了评估适度有氧运动在改善健康老年人认知能力方面的神经保护和抗炎活性，评估了 CRP、TNF-α、IL-6 和皮质醇的血清水平及其与认知能力的相关性。所有参与者。本研究共纳入 60 名 50-85 岁的健康老年人。Loewenstein 职业治疗认知评估 (LOTCA) 测试、比色测试和 ELISA 免疫测定用于测量认知能力；血糖; 12 周运动干预前后老年人的糖化血红蛋白 (HbA1c)、皮质醇、IL-6、TNF-α 和 CRP。恰好 50% 的参与者表现出中度认知障碍 (MCI)（LOTCA 评分：84.8 ± 8.2），其余 50% 的参与者（n = 30）被诊断为正常健康受试者（LOTCA 评分：98.7 ± 8.1）。运动实践、血管舒缩组织、思维操作、注意力和注意力的 LOTCA 评分的认知下降与较高水平的皮质醇、CRP、TNF-α 和 IL-6 以及肥胖标志物 BMI 和 WHR 之间存在显着关联，在 MCI 组中与对照组相比。然而，在为期 12 周的适度运动后，MCI 受试者的相同 LOTCA 评分域的显着改善以及皮质醇和细胞因子 CRP、TNF-α 和 IL-6 水平的下降，以及肥胖标志物的改善程序。认知能力与皮质醇水平呈正相关，与身体活动、肥胖标志物和细胞因子水平呈负相关。此外，在皮质醇正常和异常的参与者中，细胞因子水平和皮质醇之间存在正相关关系。为期 12 周的适度有氧运动对老年人的认知能力有有益的影响。我们的研究结果表明，12 周的有氧运动通过调节压力和促炎细胞因子来改善老年人的认知障碍。