Table 3.
Characteristics of the included studies.
| References | Sample size | Age(year) |
Health Status |
Session time |
Frequency | Intensity | Interventions | Intervention duration | Control | Changes in BDNF concentration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaughan et al. (2014) | CG = 23 | CG = 68.8 ± 3.5 | Health | 60 min | Weekly/2 times | NA | Cardiorespiratory fitness, RT, and coordination and agility training, with instructor supervision and guidance during the intervention period. | 16 weeks | Regular activities | CTpre = 4.5 |
| CT = 25 | CT = 69 ± 3.1 | CTpost = 5.2 | ||||||||
| Arrieta et al. (2020) | CG = 45 | CG = 84.70 ± 6.1 | Health | 30 min | Weekly/7 times | 40–70% 1-RM | Exercises including strength, balance, and walking recommendations. | 6 months | Routine activities | CTpre = 34.2 (ng/ml) |
| CT = 43 | CT = 85.10 ± 7.6 | CTpost = 33.5 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Goldfield et al. (2018) | CG = 69 | CG = 15.60 ± 1.3 | Health | 20–45 min | Weekly/4 times | AT: 65–85% HRmax; | AT: exercising on a treadmill or indoor bicycle. | 22 weeks | Diet control | ATpre = 24.6 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 69 | AT = 15.50 ± 1.3 | RT: moderate intensity to 8 times (8-RM) | RT: seven exercises using weight machines or free weights. | ATpost = 26.4 (ng/ml) | ||||||
| RT = 70 | RT = 15.80 ± 1.5 | AT+RT: NA | AT+RT: complete AT and RT in each session. | RTpre = 29.7 (ng/ml) | ||||||
| AT+RT = 74 | AT+RT = 15.5 ± 1.3 | RTpost = 27.7 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| AT+RTpre = 27.9 (ng/ml) | ||||||||||
| AT+RTpost = 26.2 (ng/ml) | ||||||||||
| Ledreux et al. (2019) | CG = 39 | NA | Health | 35 min | Weekly/5 times | NA | 18 aerobic exercise routines. | 5 weeks | Cognitive training | ATpre = 24.5 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 29 | ATpost = 24.8 (ng/ml) | |||||||||
| Ghafori et al. (2018) | CG = 20 | CG = 10.2 ± 3.4 | Health | 30–45 min | Weekly/3 times | NA | Perform 3 different types of exercise,included exercises comprising fine, gross and motor exercises. | 12 weeks | Regular activities | CTpre = 542.47 (pg/ml) |
| CT = 20 | CT = 10.4 ± 3.5 | CTpost = 642.80 (pg/ml) | ||||||||
| Heisz et al. (2017) | CG = 32 | CG = 20.5 ± 2.8 | Health | 20 min | Weekly/3 times | 90–95% peak HR | 20 min of high-intensity interval training | 6weeks | Sedentary control | HIITpre = 33.5 (ng/ml) |
| HIIT = 34 | HIIT = 20 ± 2.7 | HIITpost = 31.3 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Wagner et al. (2015) | CG = 17 | CG = 23.7 ± 1.7 | Health | 60 min | Weekly/3 times | 68–86% VO2max | Indoor cycling training | 6 weeks | Regular exercise | ATpre = 12.4 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 17 | AT = 25 ± 3.3 | ATpost = 16.7 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Cho and Roh (2016) | CG = 8 | CG = 22.3 ± 2.1 | Health | 40 min | Weekly/3 times | 70% HRR | NA | 8 weeks | Dietary counseling | ATpre = 24.8 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 8 | AT = 22.9 ± 2.5 | ATpost = 29.9 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Erickson et al. (2011) | CG = 60 | CG = 65.5 ± 5.44 | Health | NA | Weekly/3 times | NA | moderate intensity aerobic exercise | 6 months | Regular stretching. | ATpre = 21.32 (pg/ml) |
| AT = 60 | AT = 67.6 ± 5.81 | ATpost = 23.77 (pg/ml) | ||||||||
| Jeon and Ha (2017) | CG = 10 | CG = 15.05 ± 0.41 | Health | NA | Weekly/4 times | 70 % VO2max | 200 kcal consumption per aerobic exercise | 12 weeks | Stretching exercises | ATpre = 25.24 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 10 | AT = 15.15 ± 0.33 | ATpost = 30.09 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Byun and Kang (2016) | CG = 11 | CG = 70.46 ± 2.85 | Health | 50 min | Weekly/4 times | 9-14-point on the Borg Scale (RPEs) | 13 exercise movements to improve upper and lower body strength and aerobic endurance | 12 weeks | No intervention | AT+RTpre = 19.07 (ng/ml) |
| AT+RT = 13 | AT+RT = 70.45 ± 4.18 | AT+RTpost = 20.1 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Seifert et al. (2010) | CG = 5 | CG = 31 ± 7 | Health | 45 min | Weekly/3 times | 70% HR or 65% VO2max | Included mainly cycling, but the subjects were also allowed to run, swim, or use a rowing | 3 months | NA | ATpre = 2.5 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 7 | AT = 29 ± 6 | ATpost = 5.5 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Ruiz et al. (2015) | CG = 20 | CG = 92.1 ± 2.3 | Health | 45 min | Weekly/3 times | 30–70%(1-RM) | Mainly with the machine on the lower limb muscle strength training, also included 1 set of 8-10 repetitions of biceps curls, arm extensions, arm side lifts, shoulder elevations, seated bench press and leg calf rise, using dumbbells (1-3 kg per exercise) or low-to-medium resistance bands. | 8 weeks | Stretching | RTpre = 14.02 (ng/ml) |
| RT = 20 | RT = 92.3 ± 2.3 | RTpost = 12.00 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Kim et al. (2015) | CG = 32 | CG = 81.8 ± 2.8 | Health | 60 min | Weekly/3 times | NA | Lower body exercises consisted of leg extensions, hip flexions, and more. Upper body exercises included double arm pull downs, bicep curls, and others balance and gait training | 3 months | Placebo administration | CTpre = 6.37 (ng/ml) |
| CT = 33 | CT = 80.3 ± 3.3 | CTpost = 7.70 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Fragala et al. (2014) | CG = 12 | CG = 70.6 ± 6.1 | Health | NA | Weekly/2 times | NA | Exercises included leg extensions, leg curls, seated rows, lat pull-downs, modified squats, modified split squats, modified stiff-legged dead-lifts, biceps curls, chest presses, shoulder presses, tricep extensions, abdominal exercises, and calf raises; 3 sets of 8–15 repetitions of each movement exercise | 6 weeks | NA | RTpre = 30.8 (ng/ml) |
| RT = 13 | RT = 70.6 ± 6.1 | RTpost = 28.6 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Maass et al. (2016) | CG = 19 | CG = 68.4 ± 4.3 | Health | 40 min | Weekly/3 times | 65% THR | Interval training on a stationary treadmill | 3 months | Stretching training | ATpre = 17.64 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 21 | AT = 68.4 ± 4.3 | ATpost = 16.91 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Hvid et al. (2017) | CG = 25 | CG = 82.2 ± 4.5 | Health | NA | Weekly/2 times | 1–7 weekly: 70% RM, 8–12 weekly: 80% RM | The specific power training involved the following exercises: horizontal leg press, knee raises, plantar flexion, sitting Olympic lifts with dumbbells, lateral pull-down, lower back and abdominal exercises using elastic bands. | 12 weeks | No intervention | RTpre = 28.53 (ng/ml) |
| RT = 22 | RT = 82.7 ± 5.4 | RTpost = 28.39 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Matura et al. (2017) | CG = 24 | >65 | Health | 30 min | Weekly/3 times | 55–73% VO2max | Supervised bike riding training | 12 weeks | No intervention | ATpre = 3.718 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 29 | ATpost = 3.807 (ng/ml) | |||||||||
| De Lima et al. (2022) | AT = 12 | AT = 40.5 ± 5.63 | Health | NA | Weekly/3 times | AT: 60–75% MVP; HIIT: 85−100% MVP | AT: running at a constant speed on a 300 m long track; HIIT: repeated 200 m sprints (10 × 20 m) interspersed with 1-min bouts of passive recovery. | 8 weeks | NA | ATpre = 1121.99 (pg/ml) |
| HIIT = 13 | HIIT = 39.46 ± 5.44 | ATpost = 1852.41 (pg/ml) | ||||||||
| HIITpre = 1204.82 (pg/ml) | ||||||||||
| HIITpost = 2010.54 (pg/ml) | ||||||||||
| Rezola-Pardo et al. (2020) | CG = 35 | ≥70 | Health | 60 min | Weekly/2 times | 40–70% (1-RM) | Personalized upper and lower body exercises, balance training and final stretching | 3 months | Walking | CTpre = 25.88 (ng/ml) |
| CT = 32 | CTpost = 26.94 (ng/ml) | |||||||||
| Yin et al. (2022) | CG = 15 | CG = 74.77 ± 6.04 | Health | 40–70 min | Weekly/3 times | 45–75% THR | Perform moderate-intensity comprehensive training, exercise content includes jogging, stretching, resistance training of large muscle groups, balance and coordination training. | 20 weeks | Maintain past habits | CTpre = 7.61 (ng/ml) |
| CT = 15 | CT = 73.83 ± 7.51 | CTpost = 14.45 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Wens et al. (2016) | CG = 7 | CG = 44 ± 5.29 | MS | 45–75 min | 2 weeks/5 times | 12-14-point on the Borg Scale (RPEs) | The first part of the training session is cycling and treadmill running, exercise intensity gradually increased, the second part is strength training (leg press, leg curl, leg extension, vertical traction, arm curl and chest press), the number of intervention groups and the number of times gradually increased. | 24 weeks | Sedentary control | AT+RTpre = 11092 (ng/ml) |
| AT+RT = 15 | AT+RT = 42 ± 11.62 | AT+RTpost = 12020 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Deus et al. (2021) | CG = 76 | CG = 66.33 ± 3.88 | HP | 60 min | Weekly/3 times | NA | Each exercise needs to complete 7 movements(unilateral chest press ‘squat ‘ bilateral knee extension ‘ hip thrust ‘biceps curl ‘ unilateral elbow extension ‘ seated calf raise), supervised by a professional fitness trainer. | 6 months | Routine care | RTpre = 11.66 (ng/ml) |
| RT = 81 | RT = 67.27 ± 3.24 | RTpost = 19.60 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Imboden et al. (2021) | CG = 20 | CG = 38.3 ± 13.4 | Depression | 40–50 min | Weekly/3 times | 60–75% HRmax | Indoor aerobic cycling under the supervision of a trainer. | 6 weeks | Stretching exercise. | ATpre = 23.0 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 22 | AT = 41.3 ± 9.2 | ATpost = 30.3 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Nascimento et al. (2015) | CG = 21 | CG = 67.45 ± 4.9 | CI | 60 min | Weekly/4 times | 70–80% HRmax | Including RT for large muscle groups, AT, and balance training at an exercise. | 16 weeks | Routine care | CTpre = 2.44 (pg/dl) |
| CT = 24 | CT = 67.6 ± 6.1 | CTpost = 3.07 (pg/dl) | ||||||||
| Kohanpour et al. (2017) | CG = 10 | CG = 67.85 ± 3.89 | CI | 40 min | Weekly/3 times | 75–85% HRmax | Aerobic run | 12 weeks | No intervention | ATpre = 110.25 (pg/ml) |
| AT = 10 | AT = 67.85 ± 3.89 | ATpost = 192.84 (pg/ml) | ||||||||
| Zimmer et al. (2018) | CG = 30 | CG = 48 ± 12.1 | MS | 20 min | Weekly/3 times | 85–90% HRmax | High-intensity intervals of cycling | 3 weeks | Routine care | HIITpre = 20.965 (ng/ml) |
| HIIT = 27 | HIIT = 51 ± 9.9 | HIITpost = 24.663 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Kerling et al. (2017) | CG = 20 | CG = 40.9 ± 11.9 | Depression | 45 min | Weekly/3 times | 50% of the maximum workload | Cycling 25 min, remaining 20 min according to personal preference independent choice of exercise. | 6 weeks | Conventional treatment | CTpre = 415.20 (pg/ml) |
| CT = 22 | CT = 44.2 ± 8.5 | CTpost = 472.50 (pg/ml) | ||||||||
| Ozkul et al. (2018) | CG = 18 | CG = 34 ± 8.7 | MS | 90 min | Weekly/4 times | 60–80% HRR | 30 min of aerobic exercise and 60 min of Pilates training exercise | 8 weeks | Balance training | CTpre = 696.23 (pg/ml) |
| CT = 18 | CT = 34.5 ± 12.78 | CTpost = 891.15 (pg/ml) | ||||||||
| Abbaspoor et al. (2020) | CG = 8 | CG = 36.75 ± 6.8 | MS | 15–20 min | Weekly/3 times | 55–70% HRR | Including static/dynamic stretching, aerobic running, RT, and balance training | 8 weeks | No intervention | CTpre = 1.96 (ng/ml) |
| CT = 8 | CT = 33.5 ± 6.37 | CTpost = 1.79 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Krogh et al. (2014) | CG = 38 | CG = 43.8 ± 12.2 | Depression | 45 min | Weekly/3 times | 80% HRR | Participants exercised on stationary bikes at approximately 80% of their maximal heart rate | 3 months | Stretching exercises | ATpre = 25.347 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 41 | AT = 38.9 ± 11.7 | ATpost = 26.006 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Elham and Masoud (2018) | CG = 12 | CG = 31.41 ± 8.89 | MS | 30−40 min | Weekly/3 times | NA | The main exercises included Hundred, Roll-Up, Roll-Down, and Single Leg Circle movements, Increase the number of repetitions after the second month (which started with three to four repetations and gradually increased reached up to 10) | 8 weeks | Maintain the previous habits | CTpre = 10.68 (ng/ml) |
| CT = 12 | CT = 34.46 ± 7.29 | CTpost = 11.55 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Szymura et al. (2020) | CG = 13 | CG = 65.23 ± 7.4 | PD | 30–60 min | Weekly/3 times | NA | Balance training with moderate-intensity exercise | 12 weeks | NA | ATpre = 21.19 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 16 | AT = 66 ± 2.59 | ATpost = 30.37 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Schulz et al. (2004) | CG = 12 | CG = 39 ± 9 | MS | 30 min | Weekly/2 times | 60% VO2max | Indoor cycling training | 8 weeks | NA | ATpre = 4353 (pg/ml) |
| AT = 13 | AT = 40 ± 11 | ATpost = 5930 (pg/ml) | ||||||||
| Liu et al. (2020) | AT = 31 | AT = 84.68 ± 6.74 | CI | 30 min | Weekly /5 times | RT: 40–50%(1–RM); AT: 5–6 on a scale of perceived force | RT: exercise large muscle groups with the help of equipment; AT: indoor cycling training | 4 weeks | NA | ATpre = 19.25 (ng/ml) |
| RT = 30 | RT = 86.77 ± 6.99 | ATpost = 21.20 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| RTpre = 23.46 (ng/ml) | ||||||||||
| RTpost = 25.41 (ng/ml) | ||||||||||
| Hsu et al. (2021) | HIIT = 10 | HIIT = 58.5 ± 20.06 | SP | 30–45 min | Weekly/3 times | HIIT: 80% VO2max | HIIT: Indoor cycling training | 12 weeks | NA | HIITpre = 6.06 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 13 | AT = 53.1 ± 15.91 | AT: NA | AT: moderate-intensity continuous training | HIITpost = 7.91 (ng/ml) | ||||||
| ATpre = 7.3 (ng/ml) | ||||||||||
| ATpost = 5.88 (ng/ml) | ||||||||||
| Frazzitta et al. (2014) | CG = 10 | CG = 65 ± 4 | PD | 90 min | Weekly/5 times | NA | The main exercises include muscle stretching, balance and gait exercises, treadmill training | 4 weeks | NA | CTpre = 21.64 (ng/ml) |
| CT = 14 | CT = 67 ± 5 | CTpost = 24.77 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Briken et al. (2016) | CG = 10 | CG = 50.4 ± 7.6 | MS | 20 min | Weekly/3 times | NA | Bicycle riding training, with stepwise progression in intensity and duration over a time of 9 weeks. | 9 weeks | NA | ATpre = 5.11 (ng/ml) |
| AT = 32 | AT = 49.9 ± 7.5 | ATpost = 5.75 (ng/ml) | ||||||||
| Damirchi et al. (2014) | CG = 10 | CG = 55.37 ± 3.45 | MD | 60 min | Weekly/3 times | 60% VO2max | Supervised running and aerobic exercise | 12 weeks | Remain sedentary | ATpre = 1112.91 (pg/ml) |
| AT = 11 | AT = 54.12 ± 2.77 | ATpost = 1033.85 (pg/ml) | ||||||||
| Yin et al. (2022) | CG = 14 | CG = 70.73 ± 5.15 | CI | 40–70 min | Weekly/3 times | 45–75% THR | Perform moderate-intensity comprehensive training, exercise content includes jogging, stretching, resistance training of large muscle groups, balance and coordination training. | 20 weeks | Maintain past habits | CTpre = 5.17 (ng/ml) |
| CT = 12 | CT = 69.08 ± 4.68 | CTpost = 14.46 (ng/ml) |