Quantifying the Ability of Fasting and Exercise to Increase BDNF Expression

Upregulation of BDNF is a useful goal, as it produces greater neurogenesis in the brain. Neurogenesis, the production of new neurons from neural stem cells, and their integration into neural circuits, is important in memory, learning, and the resilience of the brain to damage and aging. Increased levels of BDNF may also improve metabolism and reduce inflammation in brain tissue. BDNF levels decline with age, but evidence suggests that BDNF expression can be boosted via calorie restriction and exercise. Researchers here compare these approaches for effectiveness, finding that short bursts of high intensity exercise produce the best outcome. The specialised protein named brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to form new connections and pathways) and the survival of neurons. Animal studies have shown that increasing the availability of BDNF encourages the formation and storage of memories, enhances learning, and overall boosts cognitive performance. These key roles and its apparent neuroprotective qualities have led to the interest in BDNF for ageing research. To tease apart the influence of fasting and exercise on BDNF production researchers compared the following factors to study the isolated and interactive effects: (a) fasting for 20 hours; (b) light exercise (90-minute low intensity cycling); (c) high-intensity exercise (six-minute bout of vigorous cycling); and (d) combined fasting and exercise. Twelve p...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs