2013 Boyd article: Promoting neuroplasticity for motor rehabilitation after stroke considering the effects of aerobic exercise and genetic variation on BDNF

Question 1

What are two postroke rehabilaition strategies that consider the importance of BDNF from the Boyd 2013 paper:

Answer 1

The use of aerobic exercise to enhance brain function

and the incorporation fo genetic information to individualised therapy

Question 2

Rehabilitation strategies that optimise BDNF effects on neuroplasticity may be especially effective at what?

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 2

Improving motor function post stroke

Question 3

When utilising BDNF rehabiliation strategies common genetic variants can reduces what?

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 3

The secretion of the BDNF protein, so individualised motor rehabilaition strategies are needed

Question 4

Neuroplasticity defined as:

(Hint CNS)

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 4

Ability of the CNS to undergo structural and functional change in response to new experiences

Question 5

Despite major progress in understanding neuroplasity..

Boyd, 2013

Answer 5

Very few new treatment interventions have resulted from this research

Question 6

BDNF is a member of what family? And has been identified as a key to mediate what?

Answer 6

Is a member of the neurotrophin family, a group of proteins involved in neuroprotection, neurogenesis and neuroplasticity

and has been identified as a key mediator of motor learning and rehabilation after stroke

Question 7

Aerobic exercise affects the brain indirectly and directly how?

(Hint- what pathways direct?)

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 7

Indirectly through improvements in general health and fitness

Directly through alternations in molecular signally pathways that act directly on the CNS

Question 8

Is Aerobic exercise the only exercise to have this impact on neuroplasticity?

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 8

No, resistance exercise has a growing body of evidence

Question 9

Evidence shows that exercise induced increases in BDNF benefit what function?

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 9

Cognitive function

Question 10

How long are systematic levels of BDNF increased following a bout of aerobic exercise in humans?

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 10

Answer: 10-60 minutes

And also shown in one study when used before, or after (Roig)

Question: Is there any more recent evidence on this?

Question 11

A large meta-analysis of 18 aerobic exercise training interventions studies in older adults concluded that the largest effects on cognition occur on what?

(Body 2013)

Answer 11

Executive control domain, including functions such as planning, scheduling, working memory, and multi-tasking

Question 12

Is there any evidence that the benefits of aerobic exercise on brain function persists at follow up if exercise stopped?

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 12

Not that the authors are aware of

Question 13

Does aerobic exercise itself induce neuroplasticity?

Boyd 2013

Answer 13

No, rather it promotes the development of a neural environment that is supportive of plasticity

Question 14

Pairing aerobic exercise in close temporal proximality with behavioural training will serve to prime what area for neuroplastic chance?

(Boyd, 2013)

Answer 14

The CNS

Question 15

The intensive of exercise should be great than what?

Boyd 2013

Answer 15

30% of heart rate reserve but based on individual exercise stress test results and health status