The Effect of Cycling, Running, and Playing Rugby on Three Biomarkers That May Indicate Brain Injury

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial was to determine if and how the biomarkers neurofilament light (NfL), brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), and amyloid precursor protein (APP) accumulated over 72 hours in venous blood following running, cycling, or playing rugby as compared to a non-exercising control group. Participants in this study were recreationally active and healthy males and females 18 - 49 years of age. The main questions it aimed to answer was: Do NfL, BLBP, and APP increase following exercise? Researchers compared the accumulation of NfL, BLBP, and NfL among runners, cyclists, rugby players, controls, and between sexes in each category. Participants were asked to either run, bike, play a rugby match, or abstain from exercise. In the exercising group, blood was drawn from a vein prior to the activity, immediately after the activity, 30 minutes after the activity, 1 hour after the activity, 24 hours after the activity, 48 hours after the activity, and 72 hours after the activity. In the non-exercising group blood was drawn from a vein one time.

Participants were recruited for this study from fall 2021 - spring 2022. Participants recruited to play in a rugby match were current members of the university men's and women's club rugby team. Running participants consisted of members of the university's men's and women's running teams as well as recreational runners. Cycling participants consisted of members of the university's cycling club as well as recreational cyclists. Male rugby athletes played two 40-minute halves while female rugby athletes played two 20-minute halves. These are typical match times for men's and women's rugby. Runners were asked to run 6.44 kilometers at their own pace, and cyclists were asked to cycle 39 kilometers at their own pace. A control group comprised of both sedentary and recreationally active individuals was also recruited and asked to refrain from exercise for 24 hours. Blood was drawn from an antecubital vein in the exercising groups before and after exercise as well as 30 minutes, 1-, 24-, 48-, and 72-hours after exercise. Only one blood draw was taken in the control group. The blood biomarkers neurofilament light (NfL), brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), and amyloid precursor protein were then measured in the venous blood and compared within groups, among groups, and between sexes.