Background and Purpose : Although various exercise modalities have been investigated in MS, limited evidence exists regarding the effects of Pilates training on both neurotrophic factors and cognitive performance. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effect of eight weeks of Pilates training on serum BDNF levels and cognitive function in women with MS aged 30–50 years.
Methods :Thirty-two women with MS were recruited and randomly assigned to a Pilates group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 16). The Pilates group performed a supervised program for eight weeks (two sessions per week, 60 minutes per session). Blood samples and Cognitive function tests were assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ,, the Stroop test,, and the N-back test. results showed a significant difference between groups in serum BDNF levels after the intervention (p < 0.001), with the Pilates group demonstrating a significant increase. In the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, significant between-group differences were observed in perseverative errors (p < 0.001), number of correct responses (p < 0.001), and response time (p < 0.001). In the Stroop test, significant reductions were observed in interference score (p = 0.005) and interference time (p < 0.001) in the Pilates group . In the N-back test, significant improvements were found in number of correct responses (p < 0.001) and response time (p < 0.001) in the Pilates group .Overall, eight weeks of Pilates training led to significant improvements in serum BDNF levels and several components of cognitive performance,