Effects and Mechanisms of Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels and Clinical Outcomes in People with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Kaagman, Daan G M; van Wegen, Erwin E H; Cignetti, Natalie; Rothermel, Emily; Vanbellingen, Tim; Hirsch, Mark A (2024). Effects and Mechanisms of Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels and Clinical Outcomes in People with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Brain Sciences, 14(3) MDPI 10.3390/brainsci14030194

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INTRODUCTION

Exercise therapy may increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and improve clinical outcomes in people living with Parkinson's disease (PD). This systematic review was performed to investigate the effect of exercise therapy on BDNF levels and clinical outcomes in human PD and to discuss mechanisms proposed by authors.

METHOD

A search on the literature was performed on PubMed up to December 2023 using the following key words: Parkinson's disease AND exercise, exercise therapy, neurological rehabilitation AND brain-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor/blood, brain-derived neurotrophic factor/cerebrospinal fluid AND randomized clinical trial, intervention study. Only randomized clinical trials comparing an exercise intervention to treatment as usual, usual care (UC), sham intervention, or no intervention were included.

RESULTS

A meta-analysis of BDNF outcomes with pooled data from five trials (N = 216 participants) resulted in a significant standardized mean difference (SMD) of 1.20 [95% CI 0.53 to 1.87; Z = 3.52, p = 0.0004, I2 = 77%], favoring exercise using motorized treadmill, Speedflex machine, rowing machine, and non-specified exercise. Significant improvements were found in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), UPDRS-III, 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Methodological quality of trials was categorized as "good" in three trials, "fair" in one trial, and "poor" in one trial.

CONCLUSION

Key results of this systematic review are that exercise therapy is effective in raising serum BDNF levels and seems effective in alleviating PD motor symptoms. Exercise therapy confers neuroplastic effects on Parkinson brain, mediated, in part, by BDNF.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation

UniBE Contributor:

Vanbellingen, Tim

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

2076-3425

Publisher:

MDPI

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

28 Mar 2024 14:23

Last Modified:

28 Mar 2024 14:32

Publisher DOI:

10.3390/brainsci14030194

PubMed ID:

38539583

Uncontrolled Keywords:

BDNF Parkinson’s disease exercise

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/195100

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/195100

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