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Lactate and BDNF: Key Mediators of Exercise Induced Neuroplasticity?
Müller P, Duderstadt Y, Lessmann V, Müller NG.. Journal of clinical medicine, 2020-04-15
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Accumulating evidence from animal and human studies supports the notion that physical exercise can enhance neuroplasticity and thus reduce the risk of several neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., dementia). However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of exercise induced neuroplasticity are still largely unknown. One potential mediator of exercise effects is the neurotrophin BDNF, which enhances neuroplasticity via different pathways (e.g., synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, long-term potentiation). Current research has shown that (i) increased peripheral lactate levels (following high intensity exercise) are associated with increased peripheral BDNF levels, (ii) lactate infusion at rest can increase peripheral and central BDNF levels and (iii) lactate plays a very complex role in the brain's metabolism. In this review, we summarize the role and relationship of lactate and BDNF in exercise induced neuroplasticity.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Müller, P., Duderstadt, Y., Lessmann, V., & Müller, N. G. (2020). Lactate and BDNF: Key Mediators of Exercise Induced Neuroplasticity? Journal of clinical medicine. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9041136
Vancouver
Müller P, Duderstadt Y, Lessmann V, Müller NG. Lactate and BDNF: Key Mediators of Exercise Induced Neuroplasticity? Journal of clinical medicine. 2020. doi:10.3390/jcm9041136. PMID: 32326586.
BibTeX
@article{muller2020-32326586,
author = {Müller, P. and Duderstadt, Y. and Lessmann, V. and Müller, N. G.},
title = {{Lactate and BDNF: Key Mediators of Exercise Induced Neuroplasticity?}},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.3390/jcm9041136},
pmid = {32326586},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9041136}
}
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Key findings
- Current research has shown that (i) increased peripheral lactate levels (following high intensity exercise) are associated with increased peripheral BDNF levels, (ii) lactate infusion at rest can increase peripheral and central BDNF levels and (iii) lactate plays a very complex role in the brain's metabolism.
Why it matters
This review summarizes evidence that lactate and BDNF may mediate some effects of exercise on neuroplasticity, based on findings such as increased peripheral lactate being associated with increased peripheral BDNF. It does not show that lactate or BDNF can treat, cure or prevent Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of clinical medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Clinical Medicine: journal h-index 188 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 236 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 29.5 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 144 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Notger G. Müller: h-index 43 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases: institution h-index 524 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32326586) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/jcm9041136
- PubMed: 32326586
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Clinical Medicine →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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