China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Functional Neurology
Published in James Crossley, Functional Exercise and Rehabilitation, 2021
Certain conditions support neurogenesis, the growth of new brain cells. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one protein that promotes healthy brain development and the proliferation of new brain cells (Gordon et al., 2003). Studies show that low levels of BDNF are problematic and have even been linked to neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, accelerated aging, poor neural development, neurotransmitter dysfunction, obesity, depression and even schizophrenia (Duman and Monteggia, 2006).
The Importance of Personalized Nutrition in Psychological Disorders
Published in Nilanjana Maulik, Personalized Nutrition as Medical Therapy for High-Risk Diseases, 2020
Known for their high levels of fat and refined sugar content, Western diets are observed to reduce brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is thought to have a crucial impact on the pathophysiology of depressive illness in animals. Depressive patients have lower BDNF levels. There are few reports investigating the relationship between sugar dietary patterns and depression. In a case series of diabetic Jordanian female patients, a link was found between uncontrolled glycemic level and the prevalence of undiagnosed depression. Moreover, an observational study conducted in eight countries associated the sugar intake with depression, on the basis of the changes it caused in endorphin levels and oxidative stress (Westover and Marangell 2002; Al-Amer, Sobeh et al. 2011).
Herbs with Antidepressant Effects
Published in Scott Mendelson, Herbal Treatment of Major Depression, 2019
In a very similar study, piperine was also found to show antidepressant-like effects in chronically stressed mice. Preference for sucrose was restored, and immobility was reduced in the forced swim test. BDNF was also increased in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Interestingly, BDNF was also increased in mice that had not been subjected to chronic stress. Moreover, the antidepressant effect of piperine was prevented by co-administration of K252a that blocks the BDNF receptor TrkB. Thus, it appears that BDNF signaling is an essential mediator for the antidepressant-like effect of piperine.14
Brain-Derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plasma level increases in patients with resistant schizophrenia treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Published in International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 2022
Ola Shahin, Sherif M. Gohar, Walaa Ibrahim, Shirin M. El-Makawi, Walaa Fakher, Dina Badie Taher, Mai Abdel Samie, Mohamed A. Khalil, Alia A. Saleh
Evidence from research suggests a link between schizophrenia and BDNF, as schizophrenia is associated with lower BDNF levels in the blood. A meta-analysis that included forty studies and 7000 patients reported that the peripheral BDNF decreased in schizophrenia (Green et al. 2011). The promoter region of the BDNF gene showed increased methylation in patients with schizophrenia (Kordi-Tamandani et al. 2012). Peripheral BDNF also was not associated with the severity of schizophrenia in the same study. However, BDNF levels were positively associated with specific cognitive tests (e.g., semantic generation test) and auditory processing following computer-assessed cognitive training (Fisher et al. 2016). Peripheral BDNF cannot be a biomarker for schizophrenia as low plasma BDNF is also found in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (Fernandes et al. 2014). However, BDNF can be used as a predictor of therapeutic response (theranostics) to existing and novel drugs (Perkovic et al. 2017).
Influence of Single Bouts of Aerobic Exercise on Dual-Tasking Performance in Healthy Adults
Published in Journal of Motor Behavior, 2022
Arco P. Paul, Brendan McNulty, Kevin M. Parcetich
Several physiological mechanisms are thought to contribute to exercise-induced cognitive improvements. Exercise training has been shown to acutely increase cerebral blood flow, delivery of oxygen to cerebral tissue (Davenport et al., 2012; Thomas et al., 1989), levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and beta-endorphins (Saanijoki et al., 2018; Young, 2007), and activation of the endocannabinoid system (Ferreira-Vieira et al., 2014; Mandolesi et al., 2018). Exercise also increases levels of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) acutely (Cotman & Berchtold, 2002; Hötting et al., 2016), which may improve cognitive functions by potentially facilitating neural transmission, modulation, and neuroplasticity (Bettio et al., 2019; Budde et al., 2016; Cotman & Berchtold, 2002; Vaynman et al., 2004). Importantly, the magnitude of BDNF elevation seems to be positively correlated to the intensity of the aerobic exercise (Ferris et al., 2007; Hötting et al., 2016), which could explain the differential results in cognitive improvements following HIIT and MIE sessions in our study. Single bouts of aerobic exercise have also been found to increase levels of catecholamines, which can promote neurotransmitter signals in the brain to increase speeds for cognitive functions by facilitating centers involved with arousal, attention, and perception (McMorris, 2016; McMorris & Hale, 2015). Such exercise-induced improvements could increase the accuracy and speed of cognitive tasks during dual-task activities that involve cognitive components.
Dexpanthenol may protect the brain against lipopolysaccharide induced neuroinflammation via anti-oxidant action and regulating CREB/BDNF signaling
Published in Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, 2022
Gülin Ozdamar Unal, Halil Asci, Yalcın Erzurumlu, Ilter Ilhan, Nursel Hasseyid, Ozlem Ozmen
It is equally critical to prevent neuroinflammation in the hippocampus, which is also a very important center for the preservation of these functions. For this aim, many agents have been tested in the literature [22,23]. BDNF, an endogenous neurotrophin, is primarily produced by the brain and is mostly expressed in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. BDNF is a neurotrophic factor that promotes neuronal growth and survival. Additionally, it is strongly expressed in some brain regions associated with cognition, emotion, and reward regulation [24,25]. BDNF acquires these roles through its interactions with tropomycin receptor kinase B (TrkB). The activation of BDNF/TrkB leads to the phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB. Phosphorylated form of CREB plays significant role in the neuroprotection and neurogenesis process [25].