Efeitos da prática sistematizada de modalidades esportivas coletivas e individuais na função cognitiva e fatores neurotróficos em adolescentes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether teenagers who train, in a systematic way, different sports at high performance level, indoor soccer and swimming, have different performance in executive function tests. Participants were divided in three groups: group futsal (GF) n = 14, swimming (GN) n = 14 and non-athlete adolescents (GC) n = 8. The experimental procedure was conducted in two (two) stages: in the first meeting with coaches from clubs, school teachers and volunteers and their respective parents or responsible persons for signing of a consent term. The participants were evaluated on anthropometric measurements their body mass (kg), height (cm) and skinfolds (mm) to estimate body fat. Peripheral venous blood sampling at rest was carried out for analysis of seric concentrations of BDNF. Tests were applied to evaluate the parameters involved in executive functions such as inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory, through the 5 (five) digits test and Nback, respectively. Then, the volunteers underwent a progressive exercise protocol in a cycle ergometer until voluntary fatigue (Balke Ware & 1959) to estimate the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and immediately after the exercise protocol, a new venous blood sampling was performed as well as the cognitive tests. The results for the response time in seconds (sec.) on inhibitory control test showed no significant differences between groups pre (34.07 ± 8.96, 30.29 ± 3.43, 35.50 ± 4.66) and post-exercise (27.93 ± 6.16, 25.50 ± 2.56, 30.88 ± 6.13) for GN groups GF and GC respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the number of errors for this step. Cognitive flexibility showed no significant differences between groups pre (34.07 ± 8.96, 30.29 ± 3.43, 35.50 ± 4.66) and post-exercise (27.93 ± 6.16, 25, 50 ± 2.56, 30.88 ± 6.13), for the GN GF and GC groups, respectively. There was also no significant difference in number of errors for flexibility. For the working memory, assessed by 2Back, there were no significant differences in response time in milliseconds between groups for NG (349.46 ± 156.77) and (401.09 ± 24.16) to GF (329.65 ± 82.39) and (399.13 ± 26.43) and the control group (387.57 ± 108.19) and (427.75 ± 27.62) before and after exercise, respectively. For the number of correct answers, there were also no significant difference between groups (59.86 ± 20.82) and (68.79 ± 4.28), GF (66.79 ± 12.00) and (69.43 ± 2,71) and the control group (49.88 ± 19.19) and (67.75 ± 3.37) before and after exercise, respectively. There were no differences between groups in serum BDNF at rest. The post-exercise concentrations of BDNF were significantly lower in GC, when compared to GN. BDNF levels post-exercise were significantly lower compared to rest for all groups. Conclusion: Executive functions showed no significant differences between groups pre and post-exercise. The post exercise BDNF levels are lower when compared to pre-exercise.