The effect of electromyostimulation combined with body weight training on plasma levels of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in elderly men

Ghasemabadi, Amir; Hosseinabadi, Mohammadreza; Barjaste Yazdi, Ameneh; Rashidlamir, Amir

doi:10.22077/jpsbs.2026.11581.2058

The effect of electromyostimulation combined with body weight training on plasma levels of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in elderly men

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Amir Ghasemabadi ¹

Mohammadreza Hosseinabadi ²

Ameneh Barjaste Yazdi ²

Amir Rashidlamir ³

¹ Department of Physical Education,Ne.C. Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education,Ne.C. Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran.

³ Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, Mashhad Branch, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.

10.22077/jpsbs.2026.11581.2058

Abstract

Background and Aim: Electromyostimulation (EMS) has been considered as a complementary method in recent years. Considering the importance and role of neurotrophins in the health and function of the central nervous system of the elderly, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of EMS combined with body weight training on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in healthy elderly men. Materials and Methods: This applied study was conducted with a pre-test and post-test design with two experimental groups and a control group. In this study, 25 healthy elderly men (age 60 to 70 years) were randomly assigned to the EMS combined with body weight training (n=12) and the control group (n=13). The training program was applied for eight weeks in the experimental group. Electrical muscle stimulation using bipolar current with a low stimulation frequency of 85 Hz and a pulse width of 350 microseconds was applied in the experimental group, and the subjects performed body weight training simultaneously with the stimulation. At the beginning and end of the intervention, blood samples were collected and NGF and BDNF indices were measured. The analysis of covariance statistical test was used to analyze the data, and the significance level was considered to be p<0.05. Findings: The results showed that the levels of BDNF (p=0.001, mean percent change=10.91) and NGF (p=0.001, mean percent change=11.47) increased significantly after eight weeks of EMS combined with body weight training compared to the control group. Eight weeks of EMS combined with body weight training resulted in a significant reduction in body weight (p=0.001, mean percent change: -2.61), body mass index (p=0.001, mean percent change=-2.61), and body fat percentage (p=0.001, mean percent change=-10.48) in the experimental group. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that eight weeks of EMS combined with body weight training can lead to improvement in body composition indices of elderly subjects and may play an important role in improving the nervous system of the elderly by increasing BDNF and NGF levels.

Keywords

Elderly

Electromyostimulation

BDNF

NGF