Review Article

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Depression, and Physical Activity: Making the Neuroplastic Connection

Table 1

Effects of physical activity on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

ReferenceSampleTreatmentAssessment outcome

[233]13 young, healthy menModerate-intensity aerobic PA 4 d/wk for 5 wks↑ plasma BDNF
[234]7 healthy, sedentary malesAerobic PA 7 d/wk for 12 wks↑ plasma BDNF
[238]60 older adultsAerobic PA 3 d/wk for 60 wks↑ BDNF and ↑ hippocampal volume
[236]47 healthy, sedentary malesAerobic PA 3 d/wk for 5 wks↑ serum BDNF following PA and ↑ memory on face name matching
[235]62 healthy, sedentary malesModerate-intensity aerobic PA for 2 wks↑ serum BDNF following PA and ↑ memory on face name matching
[247]104 persons with partial response to antidepressantsAdd-on high (16 kcal/kg/week) or low (4 KKW) PA for 12 wks to standard depression carePersons entering with ↑ BDNF levels exhibited ↑ rate of response to antidepressants
[248]15 severely depressed adultsAdd-on aerobic PA 16 kcal/kg/week for 3 d/wk for 3 wks to standard care for depression or medication-only groupSimilar ↑ in BDNF in aerobic PA and medication-only group, but ↓ in oxidative stress markers seen only in PA group