Objectives: The goal of this study was to compare the effect of 8 weeks aerobic exercise with resistance training on Brain-derived neurotrophic factor level of old men.

Methods & Materials: In this semi-experimental study, a total of 30 elderly men were selected from worldly-wise club of Broujen City, Iran and randomly divided into 3 groups of aerobic training, resistance training, and control (each 10 people). All participants filled the health questionnaire and testimonial. Then, the balance tests and fasting blood was taken. The aerobic and resistance training group trained for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, 1 to 1.5 hours in each session. The aerobic training was with 40% to 70% of maximum heart rate and the resistance training was with 45% to 65% of one RM. During of this time, the control group did no training. After 8 weeks, the balance test was administered and blood samples were taken.

Results: Findings were analyzed with test variance analyzing at 0.05. The results showed there was a significant difference between aerobic and resistance training regarding brain-derived neurotrophic factor level (P<0.05). Also, comparison of the 2 kinds of training did not show significant difference in static and dynamic balance (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The results show that both aerobic exercise and resistance increase serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.