Exercise and Dietary Factors Mediate Neural Plasticity Through Modulation of BDNF Signaling

Abstract

The term “neural plasticity” was first used to describe non-pathological changes in neuronal structure. Today, it is generally accepted that the brain is a dynamic system whose morphology and function is influenced by a variety of factors including stress, diet, and exercise. Neural plasticity involves learning and memory, the synthesis of new neurons, the repair of damaged connections, and several other compensatory mechanisms. It is altered in neurodegenerative disorders and following damage to the central or peripheral nervous system. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate neural plasticity in both healthy and diseased states is of significant importance to promote cognition and develop rehabilitation techniques for functional recovery after injury. In this minireview, we will discuss the mechanisms by which environmental factors promote neural plasticity with a focus on exercise- and diet-induced factors. We will highlight the known circulatory factors that are released in response to exercise and discuss how all factors activate pathways that converge in part on the activation of BDNF signaling. We propose to harness the therapeutic potential of exercise by using BDNF as a biomarker to identify novel endogenous factors that promote neural plasticity. We also discuss the importance of combining exercise factors with dietary factors to develop a lifestyle pill for patients afflicted by CNS disorders.

Examination of Serum BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) Levels in Judokas

“…Çalışmamızın amacı, son yıllarda hem sağlıklı hem de hastalıklı popülasyonlarda egzersize bağlı BDNF seviyelerini inceleyen çeşitli araştırmalar ışığında (23)(24)(25), haftada 20 saat yoğun antrenman yapan Türk milli judo takımı ile hareketsiz bireyler arasındaki bazal BDNF seviyelerini karşılaştırmaktır.…”

Running from stress: a perspective on the potential benefits of exercise-induced small extracellular vesicles for individuals with major depressive disorder

“…It has been demonstrated that crosstalk between the periphery and the brain can be triggered by exercise resulting from the release of molecules and factors from the liver, muscles, and bones into the bloodstream to support neuronal plasticity ( Stephan & Sleiman, 2021 ) ( Figure 1 ). These exercise-induced factors activate convergent neural pathways, with BDNF signaling in the central role of this coordinated response ( Fakhoury et al, 2022 ). Upon exercise, the muscle secretes several factors that activate BDNF signaling and regulate neural plasticity such as the myokine fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) ( Wrann et al, 2013 ), and lactate ( El Hayek et al, 2019 ).…”

Can physical exercise help people with irritable bowel syndrome? How substantial is the evidence?

“…Unfortunately, dysbiosis negatively affects mucin Health, sport, rehabilitation Health, sport, rehabilitation Здоров'я, спорт, реабілітація Здоров'я, спорт, реабілітація Здоровье, спорт, реабилитация Здоровье, спорт, реабилитация 2023 9(4) 100 production and intestinal peristalsis and influences depression by affecting hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis and modulating neurotransmitters synthesis such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and serotonin [62,63]. The BDNF can play a role in neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, and neuronal activity [64]. Additionally, oxidative stress is associated with decreasing intestinal tight junction proteins such as Claudin (CLDN) and Zonula occludens (ZO-1), inducing lipopolysaccharides (LPS) translocation and increasing cytokines production, mainly tumor necrosis factors-α (TNF-α), TNF-β, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in IBS patients [65].…”