Effects of Acute Soccer Game on Serum Levels of Neurotrophins and Neurocognitive Functions in Male Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of the present research is to investigate the effects of acute soccer game on serum levels of neurotrophins and neurocognitive function. The subjects of the research were 15 healthy male adolescents. The subjects underwent two experiments: one experiment in the soccer game treatment (SOC) condition, and the other in the self-study treatment (CON) condition. Blood samples were collected at three times: before treatment (Pre), after treatment (Post), and 2 hours post treatment (Post-2 h) for the analyses of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). For the measurements of neurocognitive functions, the Stroop Color-Word test was performed at blood collecting times. The results of the research showed that the serum levels of BDNF, NGF, and IGF-1 were significantly increased after the soccer game (p<0.05), and significantly higher in SOC than CON at Post (p<0.05). In the Stroop Color-Word test, significantly increased scores were observed in SOC at Post (p<0.05), and significantly higher in SOC than in CON at Post and Post-2 h (p<0.05). These results suggest that acute soccer game has positive effects on neurocognitive functions by increasing the neurotrophins.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Football Playing on Changes in Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Level

“…Indeed, the outcomes of this review suggest that football playing improves neurocognitive function [38,39]. The fittest players performed better in information processing and working memory tasks [36], suggesting a role of BDNF release in cognitive function during these sporting activities.…”

“…In this systematic review, we examined studies on football players or football task interventions that evaluated the causality of exercise or its relationship with changes in basal BDNF level. Few studies showed the effect of a football match on BDNF concentrations [36,37]. On the one hand, one study found a significant increase in serum BDNF level after a 90 min match in 15-year-old adolescents [39].…”

“…BDNF contributes to an improvement in cognitive responses; in football players, it has been evaluated using a memory test and information processing and the domain of inhibitory control. The evidence suggests that there is better performance in the Stroop Colour Word test [36]. The physical fitness of adolescent football players can also be considered to be a factor that modulates these cognitive responses after a match [37].…”

“…Figure 2 shows a summary of results of the seven studies included in this systematic review, highlighting the most relevant outcomes of each investigation. The results of cross-sectional studies showed that 60 and 100 min of football playing acutely increased BDNF, NGF, and IGF-1 levels [36][37][38][39]. In addition, aerobic (e.g., shuttle run) and anaerobic (e.g., Rast Test) tasks provoked an increase in serum BDNF level.…”