Health Benefits of Endurance Training: Implications of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor—A Systematic Review

Abstract

This article presents a concept that wide expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptors (TrkB) in the nervous tissue, evoked by regular endurance training (ET), can cause numerous motor and metabolic adaptations, which are beneficial for human health. The relationships between the training-evoked increase of endogenous BDNF and molecular and/or physiological adaptations in the nervous structures controlling both motor performance and homeostasis of the whole organism have been presented. Due to a very wide range of plastic changes that ET has exerted on various systems of the body, the improvement of motor skills and counteraction of the development of civilization diseases resulting from the posttraining increase of BDNF/TrkB levels have been discussed, as important for people, who undertake ET. Thus, this report presents the influence of endurance exercises on the (1) transformation of motoneuron properties, which are a final element of the motor pathways, (2) reduction of motor deficits evoked by Parkinson disease, and (3) prevention of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). This review suggests that the increase of posttraining levels of BDNF and its TrkB receptors causes simultaneous changes in the activity of the spinal cord, the substantia nigra, and the hypothalamic nuclei neurons, which are responsible for the alteration of the functional properties of motoneurons innervating the skeletal muscles, for the enhancement of dopamine release in the brain, and for the modulation of hormone levels involved in regulating the metabolic processes, responsively. Finally, training-evoked increase of the BDNF/TrkB leads to a change in a manner of regulation of skeletal muscles, causes a reduction of motor deficits observed in the Parkinson disease, and lowers weight, glucose level, and blood pressure, which accompany the MetS. Therefore, BDNF seems to be the molecular factor of pleiotropic activity, important in the modulation processes, underlying adaptations, which result from ET.

Plasma Concentration of Irisin and Brain-Derived-Neurotrophic Factor and Their Association With the Level of Erythrocyte Adenine Nucleotides in Response to Long-Term Endurance Training at Rest and After a Single Bout of Exercise

“…Nevertheless, the results remained inconclusive as discordant findings have been revealed ( Knaepen et al, 2010 ). On the other hand, a recently published paper revealed that BDNF concentration increased after regular long-lasting endurance training ( Mrowczynski, 2019 ). We also demonstrated a significantly higher BDNF concentration in the trained group and, what is more, observed a positive correlation between BDNF and VO 2 max .…”

Sarcopenia: What Is the Origin of This Aging-Induced Disorder?

“…While awaiting progress in this research, it is encouraging that exercise, i.e., frequent use of the MUs, seems to slow down the aging of the connectivity between MNs and myofibers (Love et al, 2003;Soendenbroe et al, 2020). One contributing factor may be the higher levels of neurotrophic factors expressed in exercised over sedentary aged skeletal muscles (Mrówczyński, 2019;Stanga et al, 2020).…”

“…Conversely, the target muscle produces trophic factors (e.g., CNTF, GDNF, NGF, BDNF, and more, reviewed in Kawabuchi et al, 2011;Mrówczyński, 2019;Stanga et al, 2020) that are taken up and retrogradely transported to the MN cell body. These neurotrophins are non-redundant for MN survival during development (Hollyday and Hamburger, 1976) but are continuously expressed throughout life and, as suggested by experimental data, may then serve different functions such as potentiation of transmission and frequency of mEPPs (Gaydukov et al, 2019) (BDNF), maintenance and re-innervation (Stanga et al, 2020) (GDNF), and MN maintenance (BDNF, GDNF; idem).…”

Exercise as a protective mechanism against the negative effects of oxidative stress in first-episode psychosis: a biomarker-led study

“…Additionally, exercise training has the potential to modify other indices of redox status. Studies in health volunteers have shown that exercise training may elevate BDNF 34 and reduce oxidative damage markers, including malondialdehyde (lipid peroxidation) and protein carbonyl concentration 35 .…”