Exercise and exerkine upregulation: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a potential non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy for Parkinson’s disease

Physical activity and exercise have several beneficial roles in enhancing both physiological and psychological well-being of an individual. In addition to aiding the regulation of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, exercise can stimulate the synthesis of exerkine hormones in the circulatory system. Among several exerkines that have been investigated for their therapeutic potential, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is considered the most promising candidate, especially in the management of neurodegenerative diseases. Owing to the ability of physical activity to enhance BDNF synthesis, several experimental studies conducted so far have validated this hypothesis and produced satisfactory results at the pre-clinical level. This review highlights some of the recent animal model studies that have evaluated the efficiency of exercise in enhancing BDNF synthesis and promoting neuroprotective effects. Further, this review focuses on understanding the therapeutic benefits of exercise-induced exerkine synthesis as a non-pharmacological strategy in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Regarding physical activity and exerkine induction, the neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) strategy could be considered as an alternate treatment modality for patients affected with PD.