Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35274832›Full record

SynthesisBrain and behavior2022

The effect of physical exercise on circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Ya-Hai Wang, Huan-Huan Zhou, Qiang Luo, Sidong Cui

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Brain and behavior, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
34citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

34 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Perimenopausal Physical Activity and Dementia Risk: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports medicine · 2024
    Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Trial
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. The Neurochemical Orchestra of the Runner's High: A Narrative Review of Neuromodulatory Mechanisms with a Focus on Endocannabinoids.The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry · 2026
    Review
  10. Observational
  11. Review
  12. Chronic Pain and Cognitive Dysfunction: Clinical Implement, Mechanism, and Therapeutic Strategy.The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Ya-Hai WangPhysical Education College, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China.
Huan-Huan ZhouSchool of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Qiang LuoDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Pu'er Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Pu'er, China.
Sidong CuiPhysical Education College, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China.ORCID 0000-0001-7322-9146

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate how physical exercise (PE) would affect brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of healthy subjects.

methodsSeven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus) were searched for RCTs assessing the effects of PE on serum and/or plasma BDNF until December 18, 2021. Meta-analysis was performed by random-effects method with standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis were conducted to investigate the potential source of heterogeneity. Trim and fill method, and leave-one-out cross-validation were conducted.

resultsEventually, 21 articles, involving 809 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, both acute (5 trials, SMD: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.36 to 2.04, p = .005) and long-term (17 trials, SMD: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.27 to 1.08, p = .001) PE had significant positive effects on BDNF levels. Via subgroup analysis, studies of long-term PE with larger sample sizes, female participants, participants older than 60 years, and aerobic exercise contributed to a more pronounced improvement on BDNF levels than that found when all studies were combined.

conclusionBoth acute and long-term PE had significant positive effects on circulating BDNF in healthy subjects. This review suggests that acute exercise and long-term aerobic exercise are powerful forms of PE to enhance neurotrophic effect, especially for female subjects or subjects over 60 years.

Indexed as

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorExerciseFemaleHealthy VolunteersHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicBrain-Derived Neurotrophic Factorbrain-derived neurotrophic factormeta-analysisneurotrophic factorphysical exercise

Identifiers

PMID35274832
PMCPMC9014996

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.