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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07385118

Daily Fluctuations in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cognition: Effects of Vigorous Exercise

Cognitive functions are fundamental to everyday life, underpinning the mental processes required to perform any activity. Recent studies have shown that improved cognitive performance is associated with elevated levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which can be increased through an acute bout of physical activity. However, daily variations of BDNF serum and plasma remain poorly characterised and are not fully understood, and their correlation with daily variations in cognitive performance has not been previously explored. This study examines:

1) the correlation between daily BDNF fluctuations and cognitive performance. 2) whether a single session of exercise can elevate BDNF levels and lead to measurable cognitive improvements.

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Key information

Conditions

BDNF Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua

Padova, PD, 10034, Italy

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • an age between 18-40 years old
  • no history of mental or physical diseases (of a neurological, psychogenic, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory or systemic nature)
  • MoCA score higher than 26

Exclusion criteria

  • smokers
  • individuals experiencing sleep-wake cycle disturbances in the week prior to the study
  • consumers of medications with CNS effects

Treatment and study plan

Exercise

Other

A five-minute bout of exercise at high intensity (75% of HRmax) repeated for two rounds with a minute rest between rounds. The bout consists of 5 exercises: BW squat, jumping jacks, lunges, crunches and step up. The modality is, in one minute for every exercise, 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest

Primary outcomes

  1. Levels of Serum BDNF (ng/ml)

    Time frame: blood samples were collected on day one and day two at five specific time points: 9 a.m. (t1), 11 a.m. (t2), 1 p.m. (t3), 3 p.m. (t4), 5 p.m. (t5)

    Blood samples for serum BDNF concentration analysis were collected using a Clot Activator Tube (CAT) and gently swirled ten times, upside down. They were then incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow clot formation. Subsequently, the samples were centrifuged at 1100 g and 4 °C for 10 minutes, and then, the serum was collected, aliquoted, and stored at -80 °C. The analysis of BDNF was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, following the manufacturer's instructions (ab212166 - Human BDNF SimpleStep ELISA Kit).

  2. inhibitory control

    Time frame: The test was performed for each participant on day one and two at three predefined time points 9 a.m. (t1), 1 p.m. (t3), 5 p.m. (t5)

    Inhibitory control was assessed with the Flanker Task. During the task, participants are required to indicate the left-right orientation of a centrally presented stimulus while inhibiting attention to the potentially incongruent stimuli surrounding it (e.g., flankers on either side). The principal outcomes for this task are total errors, the mean reaction time for incongruent and congruent stimuli, and the conflict cost (the difference between the mean reaction times for incongruent and congruent stimuli)

  3. working memory (short-term memory)

    Time frame: The test was performed for each participant on day one and two at three predefined time points 9 a.m. (t1), 1 p.m. (t3), 5 p.m. (t5)

    Working memory was assessed with the Digit Span Backwards, in which participants are presented with a series of digits and then asked to recall them in reverse order. The main outcome for this test is the memory span.

  4. sustained attention and vigilance

    Time frame: The test was performed for each participant on day one and two at three predefined time points 9 a.m. (t1), 1 p.m. (t3), 5 p.m. (t5)

    Sustained attention and vigilance were assessed with the Psychomotor Vigilance Task. Participants are presented with a visual stimulus (a simple light) that appears at random inter-stimulus intervals (between 2 and 10 seconds). When the stimulus appears, the participants are required to respond as quickly as possible. The primary outcome for this test is the mean reaction time

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Padova

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Daily Fluctuations in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cognitive Performance: Effects of Acute Physical Exercise

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 3, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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