New research suggests sedentary adults may need sustained training before exercise triggers key brain-related protein activity.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A new study indicates that improvements in cardiovascular fitness may be necessary before intense exercise consistently stimulates the release of a protein linked to brain health, offering new insight into how physical conditioning affects neurological responses.
The research, published in the journal Brain Research, examined levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, in sedentary adults undergoing physical testing. BDNF is associated with neuron growth, survival and overall brain function.
Researchers from University College London tracked 23 inactive adults between the ages of 18 and 55, all of whom reported minimal weekly physical activity. Participants were divided into two groups: one followed a structured 12-week cycling program with four sessions per week, while the other group maintained their usual routines.
At multiple intervals throughout the study, participants completed VO2max tests, which measure the body’s ability to use oxygen during high-intensity exercise. Blood samples were collected before and after each test to assess changes in BDNF levels.
At the beginning of the study, participants showed no measurable increase in BDNF following strenuous exercise. However, after completing the training program, individuals in the cycling group demonstrated a significant rise in serum BDNF levels after reaching maximum exertion. Researchers reported that the magnitude of this increase was closely tied to improvements in cardiovascular fitness, as measured by VO2max.
The findings suggest that the body’s ability to produce BDNF in response to exercise may depend on baseline fitness levels. Researchers concluded that enhanced physical conditioning appears to support greater biological responsiveness during acute physical stress.
In addition to measuring blood markers, the study evaluated brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, a method that tracks changes in blood oxygenation in the brain. Participants completed cognitive tasks assessing attention, reaction time, and inhibitory control following exercise sessions.
Higher BDNF levels were associated with reduced activation in parts of the prefrontal cortex during certain cognitive tasks, which researchers interpreted as a sign of improved neural efficiency. No similar relationship was observed for memory-based tasks, suggesting that different mechanisms or longer-term training may be required to influence memory-related brain regions.
The study also distinguished between two forms of BDNF—plasma and serum—which were found to behave independently. Researchers noted that serum BDNF may reflect the body’s response to exercise, while plasma levels could be more indicative of baseline brain function.
Authors acknowledged several limitations, including the small sample size and the timing of blood collection, which occurred approximately 30 minutes after exercise and may not have captured peak protein levels. Additional constraints included limited brain imaging scope and the absence of a non-exercise comparison for cognitive testing.
Despite these limitations, researchers said the findings contribute to a growing understanding of how physical fitness and brain function are interconnected. They emphasized that further studies with larger participant groups are needed to confirm the relationship and clarify how different forms of exercise influence brain chemistry.
The study adds to existing evidence linking physical activity with cognitive health, suggesting that building fitness over time may be a key factor in activating biological processes that support brain function.
Source: Natural News
Original article
Comments