Effects of meditation and mind-body exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor: A literature review of human experimental studies
T. You, Elisa F. Ogawa
Sports Medicine and Health Science March 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2020.03.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Healthy and diseased individuals |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Yoga Tai chi |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation and mind-body exercise may increase circulating BDNF concentrations, but the evidence is limited by small sample sizes and lack of randomized controlled designs. |
Abstract
This paper provides a literature review of current studies investigating the effects of meditation and mind-body exercise on peripheral concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an important mediator of the neuroplasticity of the central nervous system and cognitive function. A literature search was conducted to collect currently published randomized controlled, non-randomized controlled and uncontrolled intervention studies. Fifteen studies were identified; and among these studies, seven were randomized controlled studies, three were non-randomized studies, and five were uncontrolled studies. Current limited evidence tends to support that mindfulness meditation and mind-body exercise (e.g. yoga and tai chi) increase circulating BDNF concentrations in healthy and diseased individuals. It is noteworthy that these findings are based on current studies with a relatively small sample size, or without a randomized controlled design. Further studies are needed to identify a definite effect of meditation or mind-body exercise on BDNF and its role in improving/maintaining brain functions in various populations.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Beyond the serotonin deficit hypothesis: communicating a neuroplasticity framework of major depressive disorder. Molecular Psychiatry December 1, 2024
- Silence between words: Is solitude important for relatedness? Progress in Brain Research 2024
- Designing a meditation module to affect etiological and preventive factors in primary hypertensive patients-A pilot study. Physiological reports February 1, 2025
- Mindfulness and meditation: Promoting emotional and cognitive health. Progress in Brain Research 2025
- Serum BDNF Increase After 9-Month Contemplative Mental Training Is Associated With Decreased Cortisol Secretion and Increased Dentate Gyrus Volume: Evidence From a Randomized Clinical Trial. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science March 1, 2025
and 3 more in the library
Cites 7
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Meditation enhances brain oxygenation, upregulates BDNF and improves quality of life in patients with primary open angle glaucoma: A randomized controlled trial Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience October 29, 2018
- Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Intraocular Pressure, Lowers Stress Biomarkers and Modulates Gene Expression in Glaucoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of glaucoma September 25, 2018
- Yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention increases neuroplasticity and reduces severity of major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience 2018
- Yoga, Meditation and Mind-Body Health: Increased BDNF, Cortisol Awakening Response, and Altered Inflammatory Marker Expression after a 3-Month Yoga and Meditation Retreat Frontiers in Human Neuroscience June 26, 2017
and 2 more in the library