Kim JH, et al. - Researchers sought to determine the impacts of 16-week aquatic and land-based exercise programs on amyloid beta (Aβ), heat shock protein (HSP) 27 levels, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in elderly women. Data showed that serum Aβ and HSP27 were increased and PWV was decreased by aquatic and land-based exercises, suggesting they have a positive role in preventing degenerative brain diseases and improving brain function in elderly people.

Methods

• This voluntary study included 40 elderly women, aged 60–70 years.
• Participants were divided into control (n = 12), aquatic exercise (n = 14), and land-based exercise groups (n = 14).
• Before and after the 16-week study, the variables of Aβ, HSP27, and PWV were measured in all participants.

Results

• Relative to control group, the aquatic exercise group exhibited significantly higher levels of serum HSP27 (p < 0.05) and significantly lower levels of vascular elasticity (p < 0.05) after 16 weeks of exercise. No significant difference was noted in Aβ between groups.
• Researchers noted 30 minutes after the first exercise, Aβ in the aquatic exercise group (p < 0.01) and HSP27 in the land-based exercise group (p < 0.05) were significantly higher than the corresponding levels in the resting condition before exercise.
• Significantly higher Aβ (p < 0.01) and HSP27 (p < 0.05) were noted 30 min after the last exercise.