The Role of Brain-derived Neurotropic Factor in the Relationship Between Executive Function and Physical Training

What's the Role of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Relationship Between Executive Function and Physical Fitness/Training in Typically Developing Children? A Randomized Controlled Study

This doctoral thesis has the aim to identify the role of Brain-derived neurotropic factor in the relationship between physical fitness/activity and executive functions in typically developing children and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Development Coordination Disorder , Attention Hyperactive Disorder.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Child; Motor Activity; Executive Dysfunction
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: physical training

Detailed Description

Nowadays children are getting more inactive and participate less in sports or daily physical activity. Previous studies have shown that a good physical fitness is associated with improved cognitive functions. While being physical active, physiological changes take places in the brain. Brain-derived neurotropic factor is one of the neurotropins that plays a crucial role in this process. Executive functions are cognitive processes that are responsible for organizing and controlling goal-directed actions. These functions are developing during childhood and play an important role in daily- and school functioning.

This doctoral thesis has the aim to identify the role of Brain-derived neurotropic factor in the relationship between physical fitness/activity and executive functions in children.

In a first trail the effect of physical fitness and physical training on executive functioning and levels of Brain-derived neurotropic factor will be studied.

In a second trail the research question is expanded by investigating the same relations in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Development Coordination Disorder , Attention Hyperactive Disorder.

Protocol trail 1: The included (typically developing) children will be randomized and stratified for level of physical fitness into 2 groups: the intervention group and the control group. The intervention group will receive physical activity training 2 times a week during 8 weeks. The control group will receive no additional training. At the beginning and the end of the training period both the intervention and control group will be tested for physical fitness and level of executive functioning.

Protocol trail 2: Identical protocol to trail 1 except the participants will be children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Development Coordination Disorder , Attention Hyperactive Disorder in stead of typically developing children.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 52
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 10 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Trail 1

Inclusion Criteria:

• typically developing children

Exclusion Criteria:

• children with: executive function-, neurological- or cognitive disorders

Trail 2

Inclusion criteria:

• typically developing children (control)
• children with Developmental Coordination disorder, Attention deficit disorder or Autism Spectrum disorder

Exclusion criteria:

• Children with neurological- or cognitive disorders

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: physical training; Participant receive a submaximal (60% -75% maximal oxygen uptake) physical activity training of 30 minutes during 8 weeks, 2 times a week. Individual heart rates will be monitored during the training.	Behavioral: physical training; physical activity program, 30 minutes
No Intervention: control; 1 training at the beginning of the study 1 training at the end of the study

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline after 9 weeks in concentration of serum brain-derived neurotropic factor in blood sample.	Measurement of serum Brain-derived neurotropic factor true blood samples.	Baseline and change from baseline 9 weeks later.
Change from Baseline after acute physical activity in concentration of serum brain-derived neurotropic factor in blood sample	Measurement of serum Brain-derived neurotropic factor true blood samples.	Baseline and change from baseline after 30 minutes of training.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of baseline after 9 weeks in Amount of daily physical activity (hours/week)	Questionnaire about daily physical activity.	Baseline and change from baseline 9 weeks later.
Change of baseline after 9 weeks in Maximal Oxygen Uptake during exertion test.	Physical fitness measurement with maximal endurance test on bicycle using Balke-protocol.	Baseline and change of baseline 9 week later.
Change of baseline after 9 weeks in Maximal heart rate during exertion test.	Physical fitness measurement with maximal endurance test on bicycle using Balke-protocol.	Baseline and change of baseline 9 week later.
Change from Baseline after 9 weeks on Executive functioning test battery.	EF measurement true computer tasks.	Baseline and change of baseline 9 weeks later.
Change from Baseline after acute physical activity on Executive functioning test battery.	EF measurement true computer tasks.	Baseline and change of baseline after 30 minutes of physical activity.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Ghent
• Collaborators: University Hospital, Ghent
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Hilde Van Waelvelde, Professor, Revaki

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Latomme J, Calders P, Van Waelvelde H, Marien T, De Craemer M. The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the Relation between Physical Activity and Executive Functioning in Children. Children (Basel). 2022 Apr 22;9(5):596. doi: 10.3390/children9050596.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 29, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 20, 2015
• First Posted (Estimated): July 21, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 18, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 12, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Brain-derived neurotropic factor; Executive function
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2015/0520

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No