Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Depression, and Physical Activity: Making the Neuroplastic Connection

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that is vital to the survival, growth, and maintenance of neurons in key brain circuits involved in emotional and cognitive function. Convergent evidence indicates that neuroplastic mechanisms involving BDNF are deleteriously altered in majo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neural transplantation & plasticity 2017-01, Vol.2017 (2017), p.1-17
Main Author: Phillips, Cristy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antidepressants
Brain
Brain - metabolism
Brain - physiopathology
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism
Depression, Mental
Depressive Disorder, Major - metabolism
Depressive Disorder, Major - physiopathology
Disease Models, Animal
Drug therapy
Epigenetics
Exercise
Exercise - physiology
Exercise - psychology
Gene expression
Health aspects
Humans
Kinases
Localization
Mental depression
Neurobiology
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Neuroplasticity
Neurosciences
Physiological aspects
Proteins
Review
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Summary:Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that is vital to the survival, growth, and maintenance of neurons in key brain circuits involved in emotional and cognitive function. Convergent evidence indicates that neuroplastic mechanisms involving BDNF are deleteriously altered in major depressive disorder (MDD) and animal models of stress. Herein, clinical and preclinical evidence provided that stress-induced depressive pathology contributes to altered BDNF level and function in persons with MDD and, thereby, disruptions in neuroplasticity at the regional and circuit level. Conversely, effective therapeutics that mitigate depressive-related symptoms (e.g., antidepressants and physical activity) optimize BDNF in key brain regions, promote neuronal health and recovery of function in MDD-related circuits, and enhance pharmacotherapeutic response. A greater knowledge of the interrelationship between BDNF, depression, therapeutic mechanisms of action, and neuroplasticity is important as it necessarily precedes the derivation and deployment of more efficacious treatments.
ISSN:2090-5904
0792-8483
1687-5443
DOI:10.1155/2017/7260130