The Effect of Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels in Older Adults With and Without Disease: A Meta-Analysis Study
Keywords:
Physical exercise, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Older adultsAbstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a crucial protein for neuronal health and function, which declines in older adults, particularly those with medical conditions, potentially leading to cognitive impairments. Physical exercise has been shown to increase BDNF levels. The aim of this study was to systematically collect and analyze existing evidence to evaluate the effects of exercise interventions on BDNF levels in older adults with and without disease. A systematic search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Magiran, Irandoc, NoorMags, and SID to identify articles published from inception until April 2025. To estimate the effect size, the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals was calculated using CMA2 software. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the I² test, and publication bias was evaluated through visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger’s test. Additionally, the quality of the included studies in the meta-analysis was assessed using the PEDro checklist. A total of 33 studies (including 40 exercise interventions) involving 1,099 older adults with and without medical conditions were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that exercise interventions led to a significant increase in BDNF levels compared to control groups [SMD= 1.885 (95% CI: 1.326 to 2.444), P < 0.001]. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that physical exercise significantly increased BDNF levels in older adults with and without medical conditions, with effects that were statistically significant compared to control groups. These findings highlight that physical activity can serve as an effective strategy to enhance neurological and cognitive health in the elderly.
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