The effect of acute exercise on blood concentrations of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in healthy adults: a meta‐analysis

Abstract

It has been hypothesized that one mechanism through which physical activity provides benefits to cognition and mood is via increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations. Some studies have reported immediate benefits to mood and various cognitive domains after a single session of exercise. This meta-analysis sought to determine the effect of a single exercise session on concentrations of BDNF in peripheral blood, in order to evaluate the potential role of BDNF in mediating the beneficial effects of exercise on brain health. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Source, and CINAHL databases were searched for original, peer-reviewed reports of peripheral blood BDNF concentrations before and after acute exercise interventions. Risk of bias within studies was assessed using standardized criteria. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were generated from random effects models. Risk of publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test. Potential sources of heterogeneity were explored in subgroup analyses. In 55 studies that met inclusion criteria, concentrations of peripheral blood BDNF were higher after exercise (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.46-0.72, P < 0.001). In meta-regression analysis, greater duration of exercise was associated with greater increases in BDNF. Subgroup analyses revealed an effect in males but not in females, and a greater BDNF increase in plasma than serum. Acute exercise increased BDNF concentrations in the peripheral blood of healthy adults. This effect was influenced by exercise duration and may be different across genders.

Circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor, leptin, neuropeptide Y, and their clinical correlates in cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study

“…As a consequence, BDNF is considered one of the pivotal molecules in energy balance regulation. Acute exercise is known to increase BDNF concentrations in the peripheral blood of healthy adults, but may be dependent on the duration of physical activity and gender [5].…”

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and sphingosine-1-phosphat (S1P) are NOT the main mediators of neuroprotection induced by resistance training in persons with multiple sclerosis—A randomized controlled trial

“…suggest that aerobic training are slightly more potent in terms of eliciting increases in acute (Dinoff et al, 2017;Szuhany et al, 2015) and chronic (Dinoff et al, 2016;Szuhany et al, 2015) circulating BDNF levels. Indeed, aerobic training also taxes the CNS, but opposite to RT this is through long…”

Acute Exercise Following Skill Practice Promotes Motor Memory Consolidation in Parkinson’s Disease

“…In addition to dopamine, an exercise-induced upregulation of neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF, has been linked to improved memory formation (Dinoff et al, 2017;Knaepen, Goekint, Heyman E.M., & Meeusen, 2010;Szuhany, Bugatti, & Otto, 2015). Studies on exercise-induced BDNF response in PD as well as other neurological diseases revealed a positive relationship (Briken et al, 2016;Gold et al, 2003;Hirsch, van Wegen, Newman, & Heyn, 2018;Morais et al, 2018).…”

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