Exercise-induced neuroplasticity: role of BDNF in cognitive function across healthy and clinical populations — a narrative review

Abstract

Physical exercise has increasingly been recognized as an important modulator of neuroplasticity and cognitive functioning across the lifespan. Among proposed biological mediators, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has emerged as a key molecule linking physical activity with adaptive neural changes. This narrative review summarizes current evidence regarding exercise-induced BDNF signaling and its association with cognitive outcomes in both healthy individuals and clinical populations.

Available findings indicate that physical activity promotes neuroplastic processes including neurogenesis, synaptic remodeling, and enhanced neuronal survival, particularly within hippocampal networks involved in learning and memory. In healthy populations, exercise primarily supports cognitive maintenance, executive function enhancement, and age-related cognitive resilience. In contrast, in clinical populations—including individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, mild cognitive impairment, and stroke—exercise appears to contribute to cognitive recovery and functional adaptation through neurotrophic mechanisms.

Accumulating evidence suggests that exercise intensity represents an important factor influencing BDNF response; however, no single training modality has been consistently identified as superior across conditions. Considerable heterogeneity in study design, patient characteristics, and measurement methods limits direct comparison between studies.

Overall, BDNF-mediated neuroplasticity may represent a shared biological pathway underlying exercise-related cognitive benefits, although its relationship with functional outcomes remains complex. Future research should focus on individualized exercise prescriptions and improved translational understanding of neuroplastic mechanisms supporting cognitive health and rehabilitation.