Abstract
Objective
To provide a novel overview of the literature and to summarize the evidence for the
effects of aerobic exercise (AE) on serum biomarkers neuroplasticity and brain repair
in survivors of stroke.
Data Sources
We conducted a systematic review and searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL
using terms related to AE, neuroplasticity, brain repair, and stroke.
Study Selection
Titles, abstracts, and selected full texts were screened by 2 independent reviewers
against the following inclusion criteria: including adult survivors of stroke, completing
an AE intervention working within the AE capacity, and measuring at least 1 blood
biomarker outcome of interest.
Data Extraction
Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias using Risk of Bias
in Nonrandomized Studies–of Interventions and Cochrane's Risk of Bias 2 tools.
Data Synthesis
Nine studies (n=215 participants) were included, reporting on the following outcomes:
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cortisol, interleukin 6, and myeloperoxidase. A
single bout of high-intensity interval training significantly increased BDNF, IGF-1,
and VEGF levels, and a 40-45–minute, 24-session, continuous 8-week AE training program
significantly increased BDNF levels. No significant difference in response to any
other AE intervention was found in other serum biomarkers.
Conclusions
AE can significantly increase BDNF, IGF-1, and VEGF across different AE protocols
in survivors of stroke. However, more research is needed to determine the optimal
exercise intensity and modalities, specifically in survivors of acute and subacute
stroke, and how this may relate to functional outcomes.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
AE (aerobic exercise), BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), HIIT (high-intensity interval training), IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), IL-6 (interleukin 6), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 13, 2021
Accepted:
April 20,
2021
Received in revised form:
April 6,
2021
Received:
February 15,
2021
Footnotes
Disclosures: none
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
