The effect of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers and cognitive function in type 2 diabetic patients

Objective: This study investigated the effects of a 16-week aerobic exercise program on inflammatory markers and cognitive function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Forty participants were randomly assigned to either an exercise group engaging in supervised moderate-intensity aerobic training (50-70% heart rate reserve) three times weekly or a control group receiving standard care. Inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP) were measured using ELISA assays, while cognitive performance was assessed through standardized neuropsychological tests evaluating working memory, attention, and executive function. Results: The exercise group demonstrated significant reductions in inflammatory markers, with TNF-α decreasing by 34.2%, IL-6 by 34.6%, and CRP by 37.8% compared to minimal changes in controls. Cognitive assessments revealed clinically meaningful improvements, including a 12.4% enhancement in working memory accuracy and 25.8% greater efficiency in executive function tasks. Mediation analysis indicated that IL-6 reduction accounted for 38% of working memory improvement, while metabolic benefits (0.7% HbA1c reduction and 2.3% body fat decrease) contributed to 25% of cognitive gains. Conclusion: These findings suggest that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise simultaneously ameliorates systemic inflammation and enhances cognitive performance in T2DM patients, likely through both direct anti-inflammatory effects and indirect metabolic improvements. The results support incorporating structured aerobic exercise into diabetes management protocols to address both metabolic and cognitive aspects of the disease. Future research should explore the durability of these benefits and potential synergistic effects with other interventions.