Overground Walking to Improve BDNF, IL-6, hs-CRP, Cognitive Function, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study in a Developing Country

Backgrounds Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with cognitive decline which impact performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) that depend on memory and frontal/executive functions. Physical exercise has protective effect toward cognitive function and is suspected to influence inflammatory biomarkers. This study aims to evaluate the improvement in BDNF, IL-6, and hs-CRP levels, as well as cognitive function, functional capacity, and quality of life, and to examine the association between these parameters in older adults with mild cognitive impairment following eight weeks of overground walking exercises. Methods This study utilized a quasi-experimental approach. Thirteen participants were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The intervention is an aerobic exercise program using overground walking (trained with the moderate-intensity interval training [MIIT]) method for 8 weeks. It lasted 20 minutes, and each week they added another five minutes. Cognitive function, serum BDNF, inflammatory biomarkers such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), quality of life with the Quality of Life Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) instrument, and functional capacity by The 6-Minute Walking Test (METs) were measured before and after intervention. Results BDNF was increased significantly after intervention (p = 0.038). IL-6 (pre 6.32; post 2.86; p = 0.002) and hs-CRP (pre 2.50; post 1.30; p = 0.0027) levels were significantly decreased, MoCA-Ina total score was increased after intervention (p = 0.09). After 8 weeks of intervention, a notable rise was observed in METs (pre 3,4; post 4.0;p = 0.001) and the QoL-AD scores (pre 27.5; post 34.8; p = 0.001). The parameters were not significantly correlated. Conclusion This study showed that 8-week overground walking with MIIT improves the body’s response to aerobic exercise by producing more anti-inflammatory cytokines and less pro-inflammatory cytokines. It helps to reduce levels of systemic IL-6, and hs-CRP, and increase BDNF and cognitive function as well as functional capacity and QoL. Lower levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 may result from this general reduction in inflammation. The absence of relationships among the parameters in this study, may be attributed to the small sample size. When aerobic exercise equipment is unavailable, overground walking can be an alternative option. Trial registration number NCT06029920 (registration date: 01/09/2023)