We also observed an interaction effect on brain structure between the BDNF and APOE genotypes: cortical atrophy was associated with harboring the apoliprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele only in BDNF val/met subjects (both in HC and PD groups).
We postulate that exercise will attenuate cortical atrophy and synaptic loss inherent to neurodegenerative disorders - many of which also exhibit aberrant down-regulation of BDNF.