The Effect of Regular Physical Activity on Changes of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Intelligence Quotient and Motor Development of Mental Retardation Childrens

Physical activity by inducing the secretion of neurotrophic factors may affect the motor development and cognitive function. The aim of this study was investigating the effects of three months of regular physical activity on the serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic factor, intelligent quotation and motor development of mental retardation children’s. Forty children with mental retardation (12-16 years old) were availably selected and randomly assigned in control (n=20) and physical activity training (n=20) groups. Training program include 3 months (12 weeks), 3 d·wk–1 and 45 minutes in each session. Serum BDNF, intelligence quotient and motor development were determined 48 hours before and after physical activity program with an ELISA and Lincoln-Oseretsky motor development scale, respectively. The data were analyzed by using ANCOVA (P≤0.05). The results showed that 3 months regular physical activity increased significantly the level of BDNF and motor development of training group (P≤0.05). The total scores of perceptual-motor ability subscales such as speed, general dynamic coordination and hand dynamic coordination improved significantly after 3 months of regular physical activity (P≤0.05). There is no significant change of intelligence quotient scores in control and experimental groups. Therefore, regular physical activity may affect the motor development of children with mental retardation through brain derived neurothrophic factors.