Interaction between serum BDNF and aerobic fitness predicts recognition memory in healthy young adults

Abstract

Convergent evidence from human and non-human animal studies suggests aerobic exercise and increased aerobic capacity may be beneficial for brain health and cognition. It is thought growth factors may mediate this putative relationship, particularly by augmenting plasticity mechanisms in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for learning and memory. Among these factors, glucocorticoids, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hormones that have considerable and diverse physiological importance, are thought to effect normal and exercise-induced hippocampal plasticity. Despite these predictions, relatively few published human studies have tested hypotheses that relate exercise and fitness to the hippocampus, and none have considered the potential links to all of these hormonal components. Here we present cross-sectional data from a study of recognition memory; serum BDNF, cortisol, IGF-1, and VEGF levels; and aerobic capacity in healthy young adults. We measured circulating levels of these hormones together with performance on a recognition memory task, and a standard graded treadmill test of aerobic fitness. Regression analyses demonstrated BDNF and aerobic fitness predict recognition memory in an interactive manner. In addition, IGF-1 was positively associated with aerobic fitness, but not with recognition memory. Our results may suggest an exercise adaptation-related change in the BDNF dose-response curve that relates to hippocampal memory.

Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Vascular Risk on Cognitive Function in Young Adults

“…Possible explanation is that rather than comparing the baseline reaction time in PVT, this test was appropriate for the pre-test and posttest (Dinges et al, 1997;Dinges & Powell, 1985) as mostly used in acute exercise-induced the sustained attention improvement (Mahon et al, 2013;Pontifex, Saliba, Raine, Picchietti, & Hillman, 2012) The beneficial effects of physical exercise-induced improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness on cognitive functions have been supported by several potential mechanisms including enhancement of endothelial function and decline of arterial stiffness, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation, which increase resting cerebral blood flow and improve function of cerebrovascular reserve (Davenport et al, 2012) and incline of brain volume and size, particularly in hippocampus (Erickson et al, 2011), and release of neurotrophins, particularly, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promote neuronal growth and survival and mediate learning and memory (Vaynman, Ying, & Gomez-Pinilla., 2004). A recent study also confirmed that cardiorespiratory fitness and BDNF was positively associated with recognition memory as suggested by an interaction between physical exercise and BNDF that predicts recognition memory accuracy (Whiteman et al, 2014).…”

“…This study is timely and warranted because the relationship between such variables have been largely unexamined since this age group is considered to be at their cognitive peak and have few differences in reaction time and accuracy (Whiteman et al, 2014). Given the paucity of research, the findings from this study help to establish a distinct and needed area of study in this portion of the lifespan, when health risk potentially manifests asymptomatic disease.…”

Short term memory, physical fitness, and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in obese adolescents

“…Whiteman et al found that the interaction between serum BDNF and aerobic fitness, but not fitness alone, could predict recognition memory. 15 Physical fitness was determined by a series of tests that assessed mostly anaerobic capacity, resulting in a lower physical fitness score. Long distance running was the only test to determine aerobic capacity.…”

“…13,14 Since BDNF mRNA gene expression increases in the hippocampus in response to exercise, the protein has long been considered as a candidate component of the physiological mechanisms underlying the effects of aerobic exercise on the hippocampal memory system. 15 Physical exercise is also known to enhance the mood and cognitive function of active people, although the physiological mechanism of this effect remains unclear. Since a pioneering study showed that physical activity increases BDNF expression in the rat brain, a number of studies were undertaken in order to establish a link between BDNF and post-exercise enhancement of cognitive function in humans.…”

Effects of Exercise on Physical and Mental Health, and Cognitive and Brain Functions in Schizophrenia: Clinical and Experimental Evidence

“…Pereira et al [35] also reported that regular aerobic exercise increased blood flow in hippocampus. Whiteman et al [36] observed that genes related to neurotrophin are directly connected to hippocampus and its benefits are involved in synaptic activity and plasticity. Another study from Tomporowski et al [37] shows that exercises performed with controlled intensities between 40 and 80% of VO2 max and estimated time of approximately 90 minutes, significantly changes mood and welfare social feeling.…”