Un programa de ejercicio de 20 semanas mejora marcadores de estatus cognitivo, inflamatorios y metabólicos en pacientes diabéticos tipo 2

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a disorder caused by insulin resistance in 90 per cent of cases and determines risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Low grade chronic and systemic inflammation determines a loss in insulin sensitivity in the brain and cognitive deterioration.

The study aimed to assess the impact of a 20 week exercise program on the cognitive (including quality of life) and inflammatory status in a sample of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus whose diagnosis is ten years or less, assisted in our national integrated health system.

Method: clinical, open, randomised and controlled study on patients of the primary level of care. 41 out of 168 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus recruited met the inclusion criteria. The sample was divided into two homogeneous groups. Both groups underwent cognitive tests and blood samples were taken to measure inflammatory and metabolic markers, before and after the exercise program.

Results: cognitive and quality of life improvement were correlated to a significant decrease of inflammation markers: IL-6 and ferritin, as well as of metabolic markers. Unlike this, no improvement was seen in the control group.

Conclusions: early and regular application of the 20 week controlled exercise program or similar to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are followed by our national integrated health system may contribute to preventing cognitive deterioration and Alzheimer’s disease.