Cited by 307Physical Activity and HealthCognitive Functions and MemoryNerve injury and regeneration

BDNF mediates improvements in executive function following a 1-year exercise intervention.

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Leckie, Regina L., Oberlin, Lauren E., Voss, Michelle W., Prakash, Ruchika S., Szabo-Reed, Amanda, Chaddock-Heyman, Laura, Phillips, Siobhan M., Gothe, Neha P. +12 more·2014·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Abstract

Executive function declines with age, but engaging in aerobic exercise may attenuate decline. One mechanism by which aerobic exercise may preserve executive function is through the up-regulation of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), which also declines with age. The present study examined BDNF as a mediator of the effects of a 1-year walking intervention on executive function in 90 older adults (mean age = 66.82). Participants were randomized to a stretching and toning control group or a moderate intensity walking intervention group. BDNF serum levels and performance on a task-switching paradigm were collected at baseline and follow-up. We found that age moderated the effect of intervention group on changes in BDNF levels, with those in the highest age quartile showing the greatest increase in BDNF after 1-year of moderate intensity walking exercise (p = 0.036). The mediation analyses revealed that BDNF mediated the effect of the intervention on task-switch accuracy, but did so as a function of age, such that exercise-induced changes in BDNF mediated the effect of exercise on task-switch performance only for individuals over the age of 71. These results demonstrate that both age and BDNF serum levels are important factors to consider when investigating the mechanisms by which exercise interventions influence cognitive outcomes, particularly in elderly populations.

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Authors
Leckie, R. L., Oberlin, L. E., Voss, M. W., Prakash, R. S., Szabo-Reed, A., Chaddock-Heyman, L., Phillips, S. M., Gothe, N. P., Mailey, E., Vieira-Potter, V. J., Martin, S. A., Pence, B. D., Lin, M., Parasuraman, R., Greenwood, P. M., Fryxell, K. J., Woods, J. A., McAuley, E., Kramer, A. F., & Erickson, K. I.
Affiliations
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • University of Iowa (US)
  • The Ohio State University (US)
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • Wayne State University (US)
  • Kansas State University (US)
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
  • George Mason University (US)
Corresponding author
Leckie, Regina L.
Venue
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Published
2014-12-11
Volume
8
Pages
985-985
ISSN
1662-5161 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2143246362
Cited by
307
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 13
FWCI
12.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM081760)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK095172, F32DK103493)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nerve injury and regeneration
Keywords
brain-derived neurotrophic factor, executive function, aerobic exercise, walking intervention, older adults, aging, task switching, mediation analysis, age as moderator, serum BDNF, cognitive decline

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