Landers Josh B, Landers Korben R, Young Nicholas G
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, Lyon College Institute of Health Sciences, 5 Allied Drive, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
Psychology Department, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Road, Batesville, AR 72501, USA.
Muscles. 2025 Jun 19;4(2):19. doi: 10.3390/muscles4020019.
Blood flow restriction exercise (BFRE), which partially restricts arterial inflow and occludes venous outflow to the limbs, has gained attention for its potential to elevate serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key mediator in the muscle-brain crosstalk leading to improvement of neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, and cognitive health. In this systematic review of five studies, participants included healthy young adults, older adults, and individuals with clinical conditions. Most investigations found that BFRE increased serum BDNF, with responses comparable to those elicited by high-intensity exercise. Proposed mechanisms center on the metabolic demands of BFRE, which may increase lactate and thereby trigger BDNF release. However, two studies showed no significant changes, possibly due to short exercise duration, insufficient training intensity, or age-related reductions in BDNF responsiveness. The small sample sizes and varied protocols across studies limit definitive conclusions. Nonetheless, BFRE may provide a valuable alternative for populations who cannot tolerate high mechanical loads, and it shows promise for enhancing neurotrophic support and potentially improving brain health. Larger, well-controlled trials are warranted to refine BFRE protocols and better understand optimal strategies for increasing BDNF and supporting neuroplasticity.
血流限制训练（BFRE），即部分限制肢体的动脉流入并阻塞静脉流出，因其具有提升血清脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）的潜力而受到关注，BDNF是肌肉与大脑相互作用中的关键介质，可促进神经可塑性、神经发生和认知健康的改善。在这项对五项研究的系统评价中，参与者包括健康的年轻人、老年人以及患有临床疾病的个体。大多数研究发现，BFRE可提高血清BDNF水平，其反应与高强度运动引发的反应相当。提出的机制集中在BFRE的代谢需求上，这可能会增加乳酸，从而触发BDNF的释放。然而，两项研究显示没有显著变化，这可能是由于运动持续时间短、训练强度不足或与年龄相关的BDNF反应性降低。研究中的样本量较小且方案各异，限制了得出确定性结论。尽管如此，BFRE可能为无法耐受高机械负荷的人群提供一种有价值的替代方法，并且它在增强神经营养支持以及潜在改善脑健康方面显示出前景。有必要进行更大规模、严格控制的试验，以完善BFRE方案，并更好地理解增加BDNF和支持神经可塑性的最佳策略。
