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Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that plays a pivotal role in memory, learning, and neural plasticity. Its levels can be significantly influenced by various external factors, including physical exercise 1. Many studies have investigated the impact of exercise on BDNF production, in both healthy individuals and various medical conditions 2–5. This study sought to shed light on the temporal dynamics of BDNF production in response to incremental exercise, in particular exploring whether age can influence its release. We enrolled 20 young adults (YA: 24.7 ± 3.6 yrs.; percentage of fat mass (%FM): 11.1 ± 5.4 %; peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak): 49.7 ± 9.9 ml/kg/min) and 12 middle-aged adults (MA: 54.6 ± 5.7 yrs.; %FM: 16.7 ± 6.5 %; V̇O2peak: 44.8 ± 5.1 ml/kg/min). Participants underwent a cycling ramp V̇O2max test until volitional exhaustion. Throughout the exercise regimen, gas exchange was continuously recorded using a metabolic cart. Venous blood samples were collected at three-time points: baseline (T0), 15 minutes after exercise (T1), and 24 hours post-exercise (T2). Serum BDNF (sBDNF) levels were quantified using an ELISA kit. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS (ver. 27). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was employed to analyse the differences in sBDNF concentration throughout time points. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyse differences in sBDNF concentration between groups. Results were considered significant when p<0.05. Surprisingly, we did not observe significant changes in sBDNF levels from T0 to T1 for both the YA and MA groups. However, a remarkable increase in sBDNF was detected from T0 (YA: 13.3 ± 1.69 ng/ml and MA: 12.7 ± 0.9 ng/ml) to T2 for both groups (YA: 15.5 ± 3.5 ng/ml, p<0.001; MA: 14.4 ± 3 ng/ml; p<0.05). Importantly, there were no statistical differences in sBDNF levels between age groups at any of the time points. This study provides new insights into the age-related effects on sBDNF release following acu

Purpose: Irisin is a hormone-like myokine involved in several and relevant physiological processes. Recently, there is an increasing interest in studying irisin, and its response to acute aerobic exercise (1). Indeed, aerobic physical activity can increase the circulating level of this myokine, promoting pleiotropic beneficial effects on human health. However, the exact outcome of acute aerobic exercise on the amount and time release of irisin is unknown (1, 2). The aims of this study were to explore the impact of an incremental exercise on serum irisin level in healthy male adults and to compare the acute exerciseinduced irisin changes in young and middle- aged individuals. Methods: Sixteen participants, young adults (YA: n = 8; age: 24.5 ± 2 y; BMI: 22.8 ± 2 kg/m2; peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak): 47.5 ± 6 ml/kg/min) and middle-aged adults (MA: n = 8; age: 43.0 ± 9 y; BMI: 23.5 ± 2 kg/m2; VO2peak 47.0 ± 8 ml/kg/min) performed an incremental exercise until exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. Their VO2peak was determined via direct gas analysis and their blood samples were collected before the test, 15 min and 24 h post-exhaustion. The serum levels of irisin were determined using ELISA Assay (#EK-067–29). Results: There were no differences between groups in BMI and VO2peak (p[0.05). Baseline irisin levels were significantly higher in YA with respect to MA (9.4 ± 1.1 vs 7.5 ± 1.8 ng/ml; p\0.05). A significant increase of irisin level was detected 24 h after acute aerobic exercise both in young and middle-aged adults (4.2 ± 2.1 and 5.8 ± 2.5 ng/ml, respectively; p\0.001). Noteworthy, after acute aerobic exercise, the change in serum irisin concentrations from 15 min to 24 h was significantly greater in MA than YA (4.4 ± 1.7 vs 2.8 ± 1 ng/ml; p\0.05), resulting in a comparable irisin level 24 h post-exercise (13.3 ± 1.9 vs 13.6 ± 1.5 ng/ml; p = ns). Conclusions: This study has shown that an acute aerobic exercise determined an increase in serum irisin concentration (both in

Irisin is an exercise-induced cytokine mainly secreted by myocytes. Circulating level of irisin can increase in response to acute exercise, promoting pleiotropic effects on health. Generally, irisin is evaluated in blood, however, its collection is invasive. Saliva sample would not have any risk associated with blood collection and would represent a less invasive method for irisin detection. Until now, there are only a few studies that have analyzed irisin levels in saliva. In the present research, five healthy male adults performed an incremental exercise until exhaustion on cycle ergometer. Serum and saliva samples were collected before exercise and 15min, 24h and 48h after reaching the exhaustion. Irisin was detected by ELISA assay. Serum and salivary irisin levels increased from baseline to 24h post exercise and reverted to basal levels after 48h of rest. A significant rise of both serum and salivary irisin level at 24h (p≤0.05) compared to baseline levels was found. Furthermore, a significant correlation between irisin percentage change in serum and saliva from baseline to 24h post exercise was detected (r=0.92, p<0.05). Despite the relatively limited sample, this research suggests that collecting saliva samples might represent a valid and less invasive method to detect irisin level changes induced by exercise.

INTRODUCTION: To date, there has been little agreement on circadian variation in sports performance. It seems that both chronotype and habitual training time-of-day (HTT) need to be considered when assessing diurnal variation in performance [1]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate if chronotype and HTT may influence the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) after two different intensity trials performed in three times of day. METHODS: The chronotype of participants (N56: age 23.8±2.1 yrs, BMI 22.1±2.0 kg/m2, V’O2max 40.1±9.1 ml/kg/min) was assessed using the Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) [2] and their maximal oxygen uptake (V’O2max) was determined via direct gas analysis (Fitmate-Pro, Cosmed, Italy) on a cycle ergometer (LC6, Monark, Sweden) using a submaximal exercise-based protocol. Subjects’ HTT was objectively evaluated using an activity monitor (Lifecorder Plus, Kenz, Japan) worn for one week. Participants performed two 6-minute bouts of exercise on cycle ergometer at 60% and 90% of V’O2max at 8.30am (morning trial, MT), at 1.00pm (afternoon trial, AT) and at 5.30pm (evening trial, ET) in a randomised order. Training sessions were interspersed by 48 hours. After each session, participants reported their RPE (CR10) [3]. RESULTS: Distributions of chronotype and HTT were 27% of Morning-types (M-type), 59% of Neither-types (N-type) and 14% of Eveningtypes (E-type) and 21% of subjects trained in the morning, 55% in the afternoon and 23% in the evening, respectively. When the RPE of all the subjects were examined as a whole, there was no difference between the MT, the AT and the ET (60% V’O2max MT: 3.0±1.5, AT: 2.9±1.4, ET: 2.8±1.5; 90% V’O2max MT: 7.3±2.4, AT: 7.1±2.4, ET: 7.0±2.3). No time-by-group interaction effect on RPE was observed when participants were grouped by chronotype (60% V’O2max p=0.2931; 90% V’O2max p=0.7653) or HTT (60% V’O2max p=0.9370; 90% V’O2max p=0.9862). However, M-type reported lower RPE scores post MT and E-type post

It is well-acknowledged that cognitive and physical decline associated with aging can be prevented or reduced with the engagement in regular physical activity (PA). Dance activities combine cardiovascular, cognitive, and coordinative demands, providing a popular leisure PA among elderly. This study examined the correlations between quality of life (QoL), cognitive and physical performance, and PA level in older adults who participated in at least 10 years of amateur ballroom dancing. Methods: The study was designed as an observational study. A sample of 20 (10 men; age range: 65 to 80 years; BMI: 26.3 ± 3.0 kg/m2) amateur senior dancers were compared with a sample of 18 (8 men; age range: 65 to 75 years; BMI: 25.5 ± 2.4 kg/m2) non-sedentary individuals (control group) following an adapted PA program. Quality of life and cognitive functioning assessment tools were administered: 36 Health Status Survey (SF-36v2), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq). Physical performance was measured with their preferred walking speed (PWS), and level of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was evaluated using a multi-sensor activity monitor. Results: Participants presented a good SF-36v2 physical component and a very good mental com- ponent summary, a total MoCA score within the limits, and an average total CRIq score. Their PWS and daily MVPA were high. Differences neither in the three questionnaires nor in PWS and PA level were observed between groups. A significant, moderate, and positive correlation was found between PWS and SF-36v2 physical component summary score. Conclusion: Ballroom dancing seems to allow elderly individuals to maintain good cognitive and physical abilities, QoL, an acceptable normal cognitive reserve, notable physical performance, and PA level to the same extent as an adapted PA program. Both types of PA seem to be able to contrast the mental and physical decline associated with aging.

The parental influence on children’s cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been only marginally investigated. Hence, this study aimed to investigate whether parental CMRF and CRF were associated with those of their school-aged children. This cross-sectional analysis included 53 Italian school-children along with their parents. CMRF were assessed by measuring the waist circumference (WC) and by computing the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), whereas CRF was estimated with the six-minute walking test (6MWT). A multiple stepwise backward elimination regression analysis was performed to investigate associations between parental and children’s features. Both parental WC and WHtR were associated with children’s ones (R2 = 0.28, p = .005; R2 = 0.18, p = .041). Maternal WC and WHtR strongly predicted primary-school children’s CMRF (R2 = 0.54, p = .005; R2 = 0.67, p = .001). No significant parental influence was observed for CRF. This study investigated, for the first time, the associations between parental CMRF and CRF, and those of their children. Our results suggest that children’s WC and WHtR, but not CRF, can be predicted by their parent’s parameters. Maternal CMRF may have a stronger influence on children’s ones, compared to fathers, particularly during primary-school years.