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A meta-analytic review of the effects of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Open accessAbstract
Consistent evidence indicates that exercise improves cognition and mood, with preliminary evidence suggesting that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may mediate these effects. The aim of the current meta-analysis was to provide an estimate of the strength of the association between exercise and increased BDNF levels in humans across multiple exercise paradigms. We conducted a meta-analysis of 29 studies (N = 1111 participants) examining the effect of exercise on BDNF levels in three exercise paradigms: (1) a single session of exercise, (2) a session of exercise following a program of regular exercise, and (3) resting BDNF levels following a program of regular exercise. Moderators of this effect were also examined. Results demonstrated a moderate effect size for increases in BDNF following a single session of exercise (Hedges' g = 0.46, p < 0.001). Further, regular exercise intensified the effect of a session of exercise on BDNF levels (Hedges' g = 0.59, p = 0.02). Finally, results indicated a small effect of regular exercise on resting BDNF levels (Hedges' g = 0.27, p = 0.005). When analyzing results across paradigms, sex significantly moderated the effect of exercise on BDNF levels, such that studies with more women showed less BDNF change resulting from exercise. Effect size analysis supports the role of exercise as a strategy for enhancing BDNF activity in humans, but indicates that the magnitude of these effects may be lower in females relative to males.
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“It has repeatedly been demonstrated that an acute bout of aerobic exercise transiently increases both serum and plasma BDNF in an intensity-dependent manner [10,11].”
From Neurotrophic Factor BDNF, Physiological Functions and Therapeutic Potential in Depression, Neurodegeneration and Brain Cancer (2020) · cites this paper as [11]
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“Physical exercise is one particularly effective strategy for increasing circulating levels of BDNF [10,11] and improving brain function [12,13,14].”
From Neurotrophic Factor BDNF, Physiological Functions and Therapeutic Potential in Depression, Neurodegeneration and Brain Cancer (2020) · cites this paper as [11]
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“Furthermore, regular exercise in moderate amounts has been shown to increase the magnitude of BDNF expression following individual sessions of exercise (Szuhany et al., 2015).”
From Exercise-Mediated Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus via BDNF (2018) · cites this paper as Szuhany et al., 2015
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“Interestingly, considerable evidence from this meta-analysis suggests that humans also experience a dose-response relationship in which each session of exercise corresponds to a dose of increased BDNF expression.”
From Exercise-Mediated Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus via BDNF (2018) · cites this paper as Szuhany et al., 2015
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“Consistent with these findings is a meta-analysis of 29 studies spanning 1,111 human participants that analyzed BDNF expression levels across various exercise paradigms.”
From Exercise-Mediated Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus via BDNF (2018) · cites this paper as Szuhany et al., 2015
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Metadata
- Authors
- Szuhany, K. L., Bugatti, M., & Otto, M. W.
- Affiliations
- Boston University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Szuhany, Kristin L.
- Venue
- Journal of Psychiatric Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-01
- Volume
- 60
- Pages
- 56-64
- ISSN
- 0022-3956 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4314337
- OpenAlex
- W2047262956
- Cited by
- 909
- References
- 96
- Citations by year
- 2026: 113 · 2025: 104 · 2024: 83 · 2023: 90 · 2022: 77 · 2021: 99 · 2020: 75 · 2019: 76 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 15
- FWCI
- 4.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Psychiatric Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (F31 MH100773)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nerve injury and regeneration
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- physical activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, single-session exercise, regular exercise, sex differences, cognitive function, mood, neuroplasticity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Female, Humans, Male, Motor Activity, Sex Factors, Time Factors, Exercise, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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