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June 12, 2026Brain ResearchOpen Access

Acute cardiovascular exercise and circulating neurotrophic factors in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis of mechanisms and methodological moderators

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Key result

A single bout of acute cardiovascular exercise moderately increases circulating BDNF in healthy adults.

  • Hedges' g 0.48
  • 95% CI 0.29, 0.68
  • P<0.001
  • n=628

Why the study?

Acute cardiovascular exercise is proposed to modulate neurotrophic factors implicated in brain plasticity, but empirical findings remain inconsistent and difficult to interpret.

Does a single bout of acute cardiovascular exercise increase circulating neurotrophic factors in healthy adults?

Comparison

A single bout of cardiovascular exercise vs pre-exercise baseline

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors

DMDavid MoreauBLBreyten T. Chapple-De Lange

Discussion

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Member takes

Overview

Associated BDNF increase merits further study; leaves open its clinical utility as a cardiovascular biomarker.

Key Points

  • This review aims to clarify how acute cardiovascular exercise influences neurotrophic factors related to brain plasticity.
  • Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies (N=628) on neurotrophic outcomes from a single exercise bout.
  • Evaluated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).
  • Utilized focused random-effects meta-analysis for studies providing pre- and post-exercise BDNF data.
  • Confirmed significant increase in BDNF post-exercise with pooled Hedges' g=0.48, 95% CI [0.29, 0.68], p<0.001.
  • Larger BDNF increases observed after higher intensity exercise and in younger adults.
  • VEGF and IGF-1 showed limited evidence, making them difficult to analyze.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=628)

Structured PICO

Does a single bout of acute cardiovascular exercise increase circulating neurotrophic factors in healthy adults?

P
Population
628 healthy adults from 22 studies undergoing a single bout of cardiovascular exercise to assess circulating neurotrophic factors.
I
Intervention
A single bout of acute cardiovascular exercise
C
Comparator
Pre-exercise baseline levels
O
Outcome
Circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)surrogate

Main Result

Standardized Mean Difference: 0.48 (95% CI 0.29–0.68)

p-value: p=<0.001

A single bout of cardiovascular exercise transiently increases circulating BDNF in healthy adults, with larger effects seen at higher intensities and in younger adults.

Limitations

  • Evidence for VEGF and IGF-1 was limited, inconsistent, and too sparse to pool
  • Methodological variability across studies
  • Evidence for VEGF and IGF-1 was limited and inconsistent, and too sparse to pool
  • Methodological variability

Cite This Study

Moreau et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Healthy adults (n=628). Acute cardiovascular exercise vs. Pre-exercise baseline was evaluated on Circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (Hedges' g 0.48, 95% CI 0.29, 0.68, p=<0.001). A single bout of acute cardiovascular exercise significantly increased circulating BDNF in healthy adults (Hedges' g 0.48; 95% CI 0.29-0.68; p<0.001).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd53e5937892ebadfc154https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2026.150428
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Exploring the Effect of Acute and Regular Physical Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Individuals with Obesity: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2024 · 6 citations
  2. 2Exploring the Effect of Acute and Regular Physical Exercise on Circulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Individuals with Obesity: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2024 · 3 citations
  3. 3Exercise as Modulator of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials2025 · 6 citations
  4. 4Effects of Exercise Intensity on Acute Circulating Molecular Responses Poststroke2020 · 48 citations
  5. 5The effects of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis2024 · 1 citations