Table 1.
Summary of studies that have reviewed the relationship between a chronic aerobic exercise intervention and the variation of BDNF blood concentration levels in human subjects.
| Author(s) | Population Studied (Exercise Group n vs. Control Group n ) | n | BDNF Measure (Analysis Technique) | Time of Measure | Duration of Exercise | Aerobic Exercise (Days p/Week of Training) |
Intensity of Exercise for Exercise Group (Physiological Parameter) | Main Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <12 weeks | ||||||||
| Griffin, et al. (2011) [25] | Young Sedentary Healthy Adult Males (3-week Aerobic Exercise Group-C-Ex3 n = 9 vs. 5-week Aerobic Exercise Group C-Ex5 n = 9 vs. Sedentary Non-Exercise Control Group-CON n = 15) | 33 | Serum (ELISA) | pre-exercise and post-exercise at weeks 3/5 | 3 weeks & 5 weeks | stationary cycle ergometer (3 days/week) |
60% VO2max | 3 weeks of cycling training presented no effect on serum BDNF concentration; however, an increase of serum BDNF concentration was observed at week 5. |
| Salehi, et al. (2016) [26] | Major Depressive Disorder Patients (Aerobic Exercise Group n = 20) | 20 | Plasma (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 4 weeks | cycling on a treadmill (3 days/week) |
60–75% of VO2max | Pre- to post-assessment plasma BDNF levels were increased in the Aerobic Exercise Training group. |
| Zoladz, et al. (2008) [27] | Healthy Physically Active Young Men (Exercise Group n = 13) | 13 | Plasma (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 5 weeks | cycle ergometer (4 days/week) | 90% of VO2 at lactacte threshold |
A 5-week exercise program of moderate intensity endurance training resulted in a significant “chronic” increase in the basal, as well as in the exercise induced “acute” increase in plasma BDNF levels. |
| Kerling, et al. (2017) [28] | Depressed Inpatients (Aerobic Exercise Group + Treatment as Usual n = 22 vs. Treament as Usual Control Group n = 20) | 42 | Serum (Quantikine Sandwich Enzyme Immunoassay) | pre- and post intervention | 6 weeks | bicycle ergometer, treadmill, cross-trainer or rowing (n.d.) | n.d. | An increase in serum BDNF in the exercise group was detected. Alterations over time reached no statistical significance in both groups. The Treatment as Usual Control Group serum BDNF levels decreased slightly. Exercise appears to have additional effects on BDNF serum concentrations in people with major depressive disorder. |
| Babaei, et al. (2013) [29] | Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and Healthy Middle-Aged Males (MetS-Exercise n = 11 vs. MetS-Control n = 10 vs. Healthy-Exercise n = 11 vs. Healthy-Control n = 10) | 40 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 6 weeks | walking &/or running (3 days/week) |
between 50–60% of VO2peak | After aerobic exercise, BDNF levels significantly increased in the Healthy Exercise Group, but decreased in the Metabolic Syndrome Exercise Group. |
| Damirchi, et al. (2014) [30] | Middle-Aged Men Diagnosed With Metabolic Syndrome (Aerobic Training Exercise Group n = 11 vs. Non-exercise Control Group n = 10) | 21 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 6 weeks | walking or running (3 days/week) |
50–60% of VO2 peak | Serum BDNF significantly decreased after chronic aerobic training in the Metabolic Syndrome exercise group subjects (Blood samples were collected at the end of the 6-week training). |
| Wagner, et al. (2017) [31] | Male Students (Aerobic Exercise Group n = 17 vs. Control Group n = 17) | 34 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 6 weeks | bicycle ergometer (3 days/week) | 77± 9% of pre-training VO2max (ranging from 60% to 88%) | The results indicate a decrease in the exercise-induced BDNF concentration after the intervention in the exercise group and an increase in the control group. Unchanged baseline BDNF serum concentrations and decreased exercise-induced BDNF levels were reported in the Exercise Group. |
| Castellano & White, (2008) [32] | Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (MS Exercise Group n = 11 vs. Healthy Exercise Control Group n = 11) | 22 | Serum (Quantikine Sandwich Enzyme Immunoassay) |
pre- and post intervention | 8 weeks | cycle ergometer (3 days/week) | 60% VO2peak | Resting serum BDNF was significantly lower in MS compared to control subjects at week 0, but was not significantly different at week 8. In the MS exercise group, an elevated concentration of serum BDNF was observed following 4 weeks of training with a return to baseline at week 8. Non-significant difference in the MS group at 8 weeks. In contrast, resting BDNF concentrations remained unchanged at 4 and 8 weeks of training in controls. |
| Cho & Roh (2016) [33] | Young Obese Men (Aerobic Exercise Group n = 8 vs. Non-Exercise Control Group n = 8) | 16 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 8 weeks | treadmill running (3 days/week) | 70% of the heart rate reserve (HRR) | Following the intervention (regular aerobic exercise training), serum BDNF levels were significantly higher than those prior to the intervention in the exercise group of obese individuals. |
| El-Tamawy, et al. (2014) [34] | Ischemic Stroke Patients (G2 subjected to a physiotherapy program followed by aerobic exercise n = 15 vs. G1-control group-subject to a physiotherapy program without aerobic exercise n = 15) | 30 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 8 weeks | bicycle ergometer (3 days/week) | n.d. | Aerobic exercise, following an acute ischemic stroke, is accompanied by an increase in the serum levels of BDNF. At the end of the treatment, compared with the pre-concentration levels, there was a significant increase in the serum BDNF levels within the exercise group, while the control group showed no significant increase in the serum BDNF levels. |
| Goekint, et al. (2010) [35] | Young Sedentary Students (Exercise Group n = 9 vs. Physically Inactive Control Group n = 7) | 16 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 8 weeks | walking, running, cycling, synchro, wave (3 days/week) | n.d. | Peripheral serum BDNF concentration levels were not influenced by an 8 week aerobic training protocol. |
| Marusiak, et al. (2015) [36] | Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson Disease Patients (Parkinson Disease Patients Exercise Group n = 11 vs. Healthy Non-Trained Control Group n = 11) | 22 | Serum (Assay/Microplate Reader) | pre- and post intervention | 8 weeks | stationary cycloergometer (3 days/week) |
62–68% of HRmax | The BDNF serum levels increased in the Parkinson Disease Patients from the exercise group, whereas no change was observed in the Healthy Control Group. Training resulted in an increase in BDNF levels relative to the pre-training values. |
| Roh & So (2016) [37] | Obese and Non-Obese Men (Obese Exercise Group n = 10 vs. Healthy Non-Obese Exercise Group n = 10) | 20 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 8 weeks | treadmill running (3 days/week) | 70% heart rate reserve | The obese group showed a significantly lower BDNF level at baseline compared with the non-obese group. The non-obese group showed no significant difference in blood neurotrophic factor levels before and after training, whereas the obese group showed a significantly higher BDNF level after training. |
| Schulz, et al. (2004) [38] | Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (Exercise Group n = 15 vs. Control-no intervention-Group n = 13) | 28 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 8 weeks | bicycle ergometer (2 days/week) | 60% VO2max | Although not with statistical significance, an increase of BDNF levels was seen in the MS training group, while the levels in the MS control group decreased. |
| Zoladz, et al. (2014) [39] | Patients with Idiopatic Parkinson’s Disease (Exercise Group n = 12) | 12 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 8 weeks | stationary cycle ergometer (3 days/week) | 60–75% of HRmax | Serum BDNF levels increased significantly after an 8-week moderate-intensity interval training intervention in the Parkinson Disease Exercise Patients. |
| Enette, et al. (2020) [40] | Seniors with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease (Continuous Aerobic Exercise Group-CAT n = 14 vs. vs. Control Group n = 21) | 35 | Plasma (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention at week 10 | 9 weeks | cycle ergometer (2 days/week) | 70% of HRmax | 9 weeks of continuous aerobic training failed to induce significant plasma BDNF response compared to baseline levels. No significant change was measured in terms of plasma BDNF levels after the training program. |
| Briken, et al. (2016) [41] | Patients with Primary or Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (Exercise Group-arm ergometry/rowing or bicycle ergometry n = 28 vs. Control Group n = 9) | 37 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 9 weeks | arm ergometry, rowing or bicycle ergometer (2–3 days/week) |
n.d. | BDNF serum levels did not increase significantly after a training intervention of 22 sessions in comparison to the control group. Long-term effects of BDNF are less pronounced when compared with acute exercise. |
| Araya, et al. (2013) [42] | Overweight and Obese subjects (n = 15) | 15 | Serum, Plasma & Platelet (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 10 weeks | treadmill or bike + stretching (3 days/week) |
≥65% VO2max | In sedentary, nondepressed, overweight and obese subjects, serum and platelet BDNF circulating levels increased after 30 sessions of aerobic exercise. |
| 12–36 weeks | ||||||||
| Kimhy, et al. (2015) [43] | Schizophrenia or Related Disorder Individuals (Aerobic Exercise Group + Treatment As Usual n = 16 vs. Control Treatment As Usual Group n = 17) | 33 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 12 weeks | treadmill, stationary bike or eliptical machine (3 days/week) |
60–75% of HRmax | At follow-up, BDNF increased in the Aerobic Exercise group. Group difference changes in BDNF did not reach significance, potentially due to the small sample size. |
| Krogh, et al. (2014) [44] | Major Depression Patients (Aerobic Exercise Group n = 41 vs. Control Group n = 38) | 79 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 12 weeks | stationary bikes (3 days/week) | 80% of HRmax | A 3-month aerobic exercise training program did not increase BDNF serum levels. No differences were found in serum BDNF between the aerobic exercise group and the control group in the post-intervention samples. |
| Maass, et al. (2016) [45] | Healthy Sedentary Older Adults (Aerobic Exercise Group n = 21 vs. Control Group n = 19) | 40 | Plasma & Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 12 weeks | stationary treadmill (3 days/week) |
65% of target heart rate +5% in steps for 4 weeks | BDNF did not significantly change between pre- and post exercise levels. The 3-month intervention did not alter BDNF levels in the blood. |
| Matura, et al. (2017) [46] | Healthy Older Adults (Aerobic Exercise Program Group n = 29 vs. Non-Exercise Control Group n = 24) | 53 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 12 weeks | cycle ergometer (3 days/week) | 64 ± 9% VO2 max | No effect of aerobic exercise training was seen on serum BDNF concentrations compared with the control group. |
| Seifart, et al. (2010) [47] | Healthy Sedentary Males (Endurance Training n = 7 vs. Sedentary Controls n = 5) | 12 | Plasma (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 12 weeks | cycling, running, swimming or rowing (7 days/week) | 70% of maximal HR, equivalent to approximately 65% VO2max | 3 months of endurance training enhanced the resting release of BDNF, with no significant change in the control group. There was no training-induced increase in the release of BDNF during exercise. |
| Schiffer, et al. (2009) [48] | Healthy Sports Students (Moderate Endurance Training Group vs. Control Group) | 27 | Plasma (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 12 weeks | treadmill (3 days/week) | 80% of the HR at the aerobic-anaerobic threshold | There were no significant changes for BDNF. The authors suggest that exercise per se does not result in changes in plasma concentrations of BDNF. |
| Williams & Ferris, (2012) [49] | Physically Active & Healthy Young Subjects (n = 18) | 18 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 12 weeks | jogging (3 days/week) | between 65–70% of HRmax | BDNF was unchanged in response to the moderate intensity training program. A 12 week aerobic training program of moderate intensity, completed by healthy subjects, did not result in an increase in BDNF concentrations. |
| Baker, et al. (2010) [50] | Adults with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (High-Intensity Aerobic Exercise Group n = 19 vs. Stretching Control Group n = 10) | 29 | Plasma (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 24 weeks | treadmill, stationary bicycle, or elliptical trainer (4 days/week) |
75% to 85% of HR reserve | Relative to controls, aerobic exercise increased circulating levels of BDNF in men patients and decreased levels of BDNF in women. |
| Cho, et al. (2014) [51] | Healthy Middle-Aged Women (Aerobic-Exercise Group n = 15 vs. vs. Non-exercise Control Group n = 7) | 22 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 24 weeks | treadmill (4 days/week) | between 50–80% of VO2max | After 24 weeks, there were significant serum BDNF level changes in the aerobic exercise group, when compared to the control group. |
| Ruscheweyh, et al. (2011) [52] | Older Healthy Individuals (Medium-Intensity Aerobic Exercise Nordic Walking Group n = 20 vs. Exercise Gymnastics Low-Intensity Aerobic Group n = 21 vs. No Intervention Control Group n = 21) | 62 | Serum (ELISA) | pre- and post intervention | 24 weeks | nordic walking & gymnastics (3 days/week) | medium-intensity aerobic exercise: (50–60% of maximal exertion) and low-intensity aerobic exercise (30–40% of maximal exertion) | Change in physical activity levels with the intervention showed a trend for a positive association with the change in BDNF levels. The authors detected a trend of an increase in BDNF with increasing physical activity over six months. |
| >36 weeks | ||||||||
| Swift, et al. (2012) [53] | Type 2 Diabetes Individuals (Aerobic Training Only n = 40 vs. Resistance Training Only n = 44 vs. Combination of Resistance and Aerobic n = 43 vs. Non-exercise Control Group n = 23) | 150 | Serum (Chemkine Sandwich Enzyme Immunoassay) | pre- and post intervention | 36 weeks | treadmill (150 min/week) | between 50–80% of VO2max | Serum BDNF measures were not altered by 9 months of aerobic, resistance, or combination (aerobic + resistance) training when compared with the non-exercise control group. |
| Erickson, et al. (2011) [54] | Older Adults (Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Exercise Group n = 60 vs. Stretching Control Group n = 60) | 120 | Serum (Quantikine Sandwich Enzyme Immunoassay) | pre- and post intervention | 48 weeks | treadmill (3 days/week) |
moderate-intensity 50–60% of HR reserve (1–7 weeks) 60–75% HR reserve (remainder of the program) | The aerobic exercise group did not demonstrate greater changes in circulating serum BDNF levels compared with the control group. However, the aerobic exercise group revealed higher post-intervention BDNF levels, when compared with the pre-intervention BDNF concentrations. |