Effects of aerobic exercise training on peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor and eotaxin-1 levels in obese young men

Exploring the Effect of Acute and Regular Physical Exercise on Circulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Individuals with Obesity: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Obesity is a major global health concern linked to cognitive impairment and neurological disorders. Circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein crucial for neuronal growth and survival, plays a vital role in brain function and plasticity. Notably, obese individuals tend to exhibit lower BDNF levels, potentially contributing to cognitive decline. Physical exercise offers health benefits, including improved circulating BDNF levels and cognitive function, but the specific impacts of acute versus regular exercise on circulating BDNF levels in obesity are unclear. Understanding this can guide interventions to enhance brain health and counter potential cognitive decline in obese individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impact of acute and regular physical exercise on circulating BDNF in individuals with obesity. The target population comprised individuals classified as overweight or obese, encompassing both acute and chronic protocols involving all training methods. A comprehensive search was conducted across computerized databases, including PubMed, Academic Search Complete, and Web of Science, in August 2022, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Initially, 98 studies were identified, from which 16 studies, comprising 23 trials, met the selection criteria. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for both acute (I2 = 80.4%) and long-term effects (I2 = 88.7%), but low risk of bias for the included studies. A single session of exercise increased circulating BDNF levels among obese patients compared to the control group (ES = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.19 to 2.30, p = 0.021). However, with extended periods of physical exercise, there was no significant increase in circulating BDNF levels when compared to the control group (ES = 0.49, 95% CI = -0.08 to 1.06, p = 0.089). These findings highlight the need to consider exercise duration and type when studying neurobiological responses in obesity and exercise research. The study's results have implications for exercise prescription in obesity management and highlight the need for tailored interventions to optimize neurotrophic responses. Future research should focus on elucidating the adaptive mechanisms and exploring novel strategies to enhance BDNF modulation through exercise in this population. However, further research is needed considering limitations such as the potential age-related confounding effects due to diverse participant ages, lack of sex-specific analyses, and insufficient exploration of how specific exercise parameters (e.g., duration, intensity, type) impact circulating BDNF.

Changes in selected exerkines concentration post folk-dance training are accompanied by glucose homeostasis and physical performance improvement in older adults

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of selected exerkines concentration induced by folk-dance and balance training on physical performance, insulin resistance, and blood pressure in older adults. Participants (n = 41, age 71.3 ± 5.5 years) were randomly assigned to folk-dance (DG), balance training (BG), or control group (CG). The training was performed 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Physical performance tests-time up and go (TUG) and 6-min walk test (6MWT), blood pressure, insulin resistance, and selected proteins induced by exercise (exerkines) were assessed at baseline and post-exercise intervention. Significant improvement in TUG (p = 0.006 for BG and 0.039 for DG) and 6MWT tests (in BG and DG p = 0.001), reduction of systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001 for BG and 0.003 for DG), and diastolic blood pressure (for BG; p = 0.001) were registered post-intervention. These positive changes were accompanied by the drop in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p = 0.002 for BG and 0.002 for DG), the increase of irisin concentration (p = 0.029 for BG and 0.022 for DG) in both groups, and DG the amelioration of insulin resistance indicators (HOMA-IR p = 0.023 and QUICKI p = 0.035). Folk-dance training significantly reduced the c-terminal agrin fragment (CAF; p = 0.024). Obtained data indicated that both training programs effectively improved physical performance and blood pressure, accompanied by changes in selected exerkines. Still, folk-dance had enhanced insulin sensitivity.

Emphasizing roles of BDNF promoters and inducers in Alzheimer's disease for improving impaired cognition and memory

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a crucial neurotrophic factor adding to neurons' development and endurance. The amount of BDNF present in the brain determines susceptibility to various neurodegenerative diseases. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), often it is seen that low levels of BDNF are present, which primarily contributes to cognition deficit by regulating long-term potentiation (LTP) and synaptic plasticity. Molecular mechanisms underlying the synthesis, storage and release of BDNF are widely studied. New molecules are found, which contribute to the signal transduction pathway. Two important receptors of BDNF are TrkB and p75NTR. When BDNF binds to the TrkB receptor, it activates three main signalling pathways-phospholipase C, MAPK/ERK, PI3/AKT. BDNF holds an imperative part in LTP and dendritic development, which are essential for memory formation. BDNF supports synaptic integrity by influencing LTP and LTD. This action is conducted by modulating the glutamate receptors; AMPA and NMDA. This review paper discusses the aforesaid points along with inducers of BDNF. Drugs and herbals promote neuroprotection by increasing the hippocampus' BDNF level in various disease-induced animal models for neurodegeneration. Advancement in finding pertinent molecules contributing to the BDNF signalling pathway has been discussed, along with the areas that require further research and study.

Effects of different physical activities on brain-derived neurotrophic factor: A systematic review and bayesian network meta-analysis

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that exercise is a simple and effective method for maintaining brain function.

Aims

This review evaluates the effects of five physical exercises, including aerobic training (AT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), combined training (CT), resistance training (RT), and AT+RT, on the serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in healthy and non-healthy populations.

Methods

We searched CNKI, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to review randomized controlled studies on exercise interventions for BDNF. Quantitative merging analysis of the resulting data using Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Results

The screening and exclusion of the searched literature resulted in the inclusion of 39 randomized controlled trials containing 5 exercise interventions with a total of 2031 subjects. The AT, RT, AT+RT, HIIT, and CT groups (intervention groups) and the CG group (conventional control group) were assigned to 451, 236, 102, 84, 293, and 865 subjects, respectively. The Bayesian network meta-analysis ranked the effect of exercise on BDNF level improvement in healthy and non-healthy subjects as follows: RT > HIIT > CT > AT+RT > AT > CG. Better outcomes were observed in all five intervention groups than in the CG group, with RT having the most significant effect [MD = 3.11 (0.33, 5.76), p < 0.05].

Conclusions

RT at moderate intensity is recommended for children and older adults in the case of exercise tolerance and is effective in maintaining or modulating BDNF levels for promoting brain health.

Systematic Review Registration

https://inplasy.com, INPLASY202250164.

Physical exercise is associated with a reduction in plasma levels of fractalkine, TGF-β1, eotaxin-1 and IL-6 in younger adults with mobility disability

Mobility disability (MD) refers to substantial limitations in life activities that arise because of movement impairments. Although MD is most prevalent in older individuals, it can also affect younger adults. Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation can drive the development of MD and may need to be targeted for MD prevention. Physical exercise has anti-inflammatory properties and has been associated with MD prevention. However, no studies to date have examined whether exercise interventions affect the peripheral inflammatory status in younger adults with MD. To this end, we used blood samples from young and middle-aged adults with MD (N = 38; median age = 34 years) who participated in a 12-week intervention that included aerobic and resistance exercise training. A pre-post assessment of inflammatory biomarkers was conducted in plasma from two timepoints, i.e., before the exercise trial and at follow-up (3–7 days after the last exercise session). We successfully measured 15 inflammatory biomarkers and found that exercise was associated with a significant reduction in levels of soluble fractalkine, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), eotaxin-1 and interleukin (IL) 6 (corrected α = 0.004). We also found significant male-specific effects of exercise on (i) increasing IL-16 and (ii) decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). In line with our results, previous studies have also found that exercise can reduce levels of TGF-β1, eotaxin-1 and IL-6. However, our finding that exercise reduces plasma levels of fractalkine in younger adults with MD, as well as the sex-dependent findings, have not been previously reported and warrant replication in larger cohorts. Given the suggested role of inflammation in promoting MD development, our study provides additional support for the use of physical exercise as a treatment modality for MD.

Physiological Changes and Pathological Pain Associated with Sedentary Lifestyle-Induced Body Systems Fat Accumulation and Their Modulation by Physical Exercise

A sedentary lifestyle is associated with overweight/obesity, which involves excessive fat body accumulation, triggering structural and functional changes in tissues, organs, and body systems. Research shows that this fat accumulation is responsible for several comorbidities, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic dysfunctions, as well as pathological pain behaviors. These health concerns are related to the crosstalk between adipose tissue and body systems, leading to pathophysiological changes to the latter. To deal with these health issues, it has been suggested that physical exercise may reverse part of these obesity-related pathologies by modulating the cross talk between the adipose tissue and body systems. In this context, this review was carried out to provide knowledge about (i) the structural and functional changes in tissues, organs, and body systems from accumulation of fat in obesity, emphasizing the crosstalk between fat and body tissues; (ii) the crosstalk between fat and body tissues triggering pain; and (iii) the effects of physical exercise on body tissues and organs in obese and non-obese subjects, and their impact on pathological pain. This information may help one to better understand this crosstalk and the factors involved, and it could be useful in designing more specific training interventions (according to the nature of the comorbidity).

The Impact of Physical Exercise on the Circulating Levels of BDNF and NT 4/5: A Review

(1) Background: One mechanism through which physical activity (PA) provides benefits is by triggering activity at a molecular level, where neurotrophins (NTs) are known to play an important role. However, the expression of the circulating levels of neurotrophic factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4/5), in response to exercise, is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim was to provide an updated overview on the neurotrophin (NT) variation levels of BDNF and NT-4/5 as a consequence of a long-term aerobic exercise intervention, and to understand and describe whether the upregulation of circulating NT levels is a result of neurotrophic factors produced and released from the brain, and/or from neurotrophic secreting peripheral organs. (2) Methods: The articles were collected from PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Embase. Data were analyzed through a narrative synthesis. (3) Results: 30 articles studied humans who performed training protocols that ranged from 4 to 48 weeks; 22 articles studied rodents with an intervention period that ranged from 4 to 64 weeks. (4) Conclusions: There is no unanimity between the upregulation of BDNF in humans; conversely, concerning both BDNF and NT-4/5 in animal models, the results are heterogeneous. Whilst BDNF upregulation appears to be in relative agreement, NT-4/5 seems to display contradictory and inconsistent conclusions.

Two Months of Using Global Recommendations for Physical Activity Had No Impact on Cognitive or Motor Functions in Overweight and Obese Middle-Aged Women

BACKGROUND

The effect of globally recommended levels of physical activity on cognition and motor behavior is not completely understood. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the effect of 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive and motor performance among overweight and obese working-age women.

METHODS

Overweight and obese participants aged 38-56 years were randomized to either a control or an experimental group performing aerobic exercise at 50% to 60% of the peak oxygen consumption for a 2-month period. Changes in aerobic fitness, cardiac autonomic function, brain-derived neurotropic factor levels, and cognitive and motor performance were assessed.

RESULTS

Although aerobic exercise reduced body weight (P < .05) and improved peak oxygen consumption (P < .05), the brain-derived neurotropic factor levels and cognitive and motor performance remained unchanged. Heart rate and blood pressure decreased (P < .05), whereas heart rate variability indices were not affected. No significant correlations between changes in heart rate variability indices and cognition were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Two months of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise decreased sympathetic activity and improved cardiovascular fitness but had no impact on cognition or motor control among these middle-aged, overweight, and obese women.

Effect of Physical Activity on Cognitive Function and Neurogenesis: Roles of BDNF and Oxidative Stress

Context: Cognitive disorders are one of the most common neurological problems that can be caused by lifestyle patterns, especially sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, exposure to a variety of toxins or diseases. Evidence Acquisition: There are various strategies recommended for the prevention and treatment of these disorders, including drug therapy, psychological therapy, dietary pattern changes, and physical activity. Results: It seems that physical activity with biological mechanisms can have beneficial effects on the central nervous system and improve cognitive function, including enhanced learning and memory, as well as reduced depression and anxiety. Conclusions: Of the major mechanisms that physical activity can affect cognitive function include increased neurogenic factors, decreased oxidative stress, decreased inflammatory mediators, and mitochondrial biogenesis. Therefore, it is recommended that people with cognitive impairments can use physical activity as an appropriate strategy to prevent and treat cognitive impairment problems.

A Cross-Sectional Study Evaluating the Effects of Resistance Exercise on Inflammation and Neurotrophic Factors in Elderly Women with Obesity

PURPOSE

Aging lowers brain functionality, and obesity accelerates this process. Resistance exercise can help reverse aging; however, studies examining how it affects brain function and body mass are limited. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of resistance exercise on inflammation and neurotrophic factors in elderly women with obesity.

METHODS

Twenty-six elderly women with obesity were selected for this study and randomly assigned into a control group (CG, n = 13) and an experimental group (EG, n = 13). The EG performed resistance training thrice weekly for 12 weeks using elastic bands, while the CG did not exercise. Serum lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)) and nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and eotaxin-1 levels were analyzed before and after the intervention. Body composition (soft lean mass (SLM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat mass (BFM), percent body fat (PBF), waist-hip-ratio (WHR), basal metabolic rates (BMR)) measurements and blood tests were performed.

RESULTS

Among the body composition variables, SLM, SMM, and BMR in the EG were significantly increased after intervention (p < 0.05). Serum lipid profile was not significantly different after intervention (p > 0.05). After intervention, the levels of NF-κB, IFN-γ, and eotaxin-1 were significantly lower and BDNF and VEGF were significantly higher in the EG than in the CG (p < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

These results imply that regular resistance training in elderly women with obesity can increase muscle mass, reduce inflammation, and stimulate neurotrophic factors.

Circulating factors in young blood as potential therapeutic agents for age-related neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases

Recent animal studies on heterochronic parabiosis (a technique combining the blood circulation of two animals) have revealed that young blood has a powerful rejuvenating effect on brain aging. Circulating factors, especially growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and C-C motif chemokine 11 (CCL11), may play a key role in this effect, which inspires hope for novel approaches to treating age-related cerebral diseases in humans, such as neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases. Recently, attempts have begun to translate these astonishing and exciting findings from mice to humans and from bench to bedside. However, increasing reports have shown contradictory data, questioning the capacity of these circulating factors to reverse age-related brain dysfunction. In this review, we summarize the current research on the role of young blood, as well as the circulating factors GDF11 and CCL11, in the aging brain and age-related cerebral diseases. We highlight recent controversies, discuss related challenges and provide a future outlook.

The impact of an add-on video assisted structured aerobic exercise module on mood and somatic symptoms among women with depressive disorders: Study from a tertiary care centre in India

BACKGROUND

The evidence in favor of exercise as a treatment for depression is compelling, but what kind of exercise, how much, how often, and at what intensity is necessary to make a significant difference. There is serious dearth of such data from India, in particular. We examined the impact of low-moderate intensity aerobic exercises on mood and somatic symptoms among women with depressive disorders.

METHODS

A pre test- post test control group design was adopted with a sample size of 40 (20 subjects randomized to both experimental and control group) women inpatients diagnosed with depressive disorder at a tertiary care centre, Bengaluru, India. After pre-test, experimental group received 10 sessions of add-on intervention (video assisted structured aerobic exercise module) and the control group received treatment as usual. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS) and Depression Somatic Symptom scale (DSSS) were used as clinical outcome measures.

RESULTS

The estimated mean change within the group in HDRS was 4.30 (95% CI 3.15 to 5.44; p<0.001) in the experimental group as compared to 2.70 (95% CI 1.50 to 3.89; p<0.001) in control group. RMANOVA (F=4.08) revealed a significant reduction in mean mood score in HDRS in the experimental group as compared to the control group at p<0.05. There was no statistically significant reduction in mean somatic symptom score between the groups (p=0.142).

CONCLUSION

The study findings support that add-on aerobic exercise is associated with significantly greater improvements in mood symptoms of women with depressive disorders, when performed in a structured and supervised setting.

Effects of taekwondo intervention on cognitive function and academic self-efficacy in children

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of taekwondo training on cognitive function and academic self-efficacy in children. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-five children participated in the study. Seventeen children were randomly selected to undergo taekwondo training for 16 weeks (5 times per week). As controls, 18 children received no training. Cognitive function and academic self-efficacy were measured using the Stroop Color and Word Test (Word, Color, and Color-Word) and academic self-efficacy scale (Self-confidence, Self-regulatory Efficacy, and Task Difficulty Preference), respectively. [Results] In the taekwondo group, the Color-Word and Self-confidence scores increased significantly after intervention as compared to those before intervention. [Conclusion] It is suggested that regular taekwondo training may be effective for enhancing cognitive function and academic self-efficacy in growing children.