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June 12, 2026European Journal of Preventive CardiologyOpen Access

Acute and chronic effects of aerobic exercise on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with coronary artery disease

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Why the study?

Does high-intensity interval training increase serum BDNF levels compared to moderate-intensity continuous training in patients with coronary artery disease?

Population

20 patients with coronary artery disease (myocardial infarction n = 16; stable angina n = 4)

Comparison

High-intensity training with short intervals or… vs Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)

Design

RCT, randomised

Follow-up

12 weeks

Authors

SBS BaladzhaevaAMA M R Agustin Manresa-RocamoraASA S R Ana Sanz-Rocher

Discussion

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Overview

HIIT may acutely raise BDNF in CAD patients; extends healthy-population data but needs larger trials before practice change.

Key Points

  • This study aims to explore how different aerobic exercise modalities affect serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Twenty patients with CAD were randomized to three aerobic training groups: moderate-intensity continuous training, short HIIT, and long HIIT.
  • Serum BDNF was measured before and after a cardiopulmonary exercise test at baseline, and after 6 and 12 weeks.
  • Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA to assess acute and chronic responses based on exercise type.
  • Significant acute increases in BDNF were found in both HIIT groups: short-HIIT (MD = 11.52 ng/mL, 95% CI [4.78, 18.26], p = .002) and long-HIIT (MD = 10.28 ng/mL, 95% CI [2.99, 17.56], p = .008).
  • The moderate-intensity continuous training group showed no significant change in BDNF levels post-exercise (MD = 3.83 ng/mL, 95% CI [-2.91, 10.57], p = .247).
  • No chronic changes in resting BDNF levels were observed in any group after the intervention.

Structured PICO

Does high-intensity interval training increase serum BDNF levels compared to moderate-intensity continuous training in patients with coronary artery disease?

P
Population
20 patients with coronary artery disease (myocardial infarction n = 16; stable angina n = 4)
I
Intervention
High-intensity training with short intervals (short-HIIT) or long intervals (long-HIIT) over 12 weeks
C
Comparator
Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)
O
Outcome
Acute and chronic changes in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) measured before and one min after a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weekssurrogate

High-intensity interval training elicits a stronger acute increase in serum BDNF compared to moderate-intensity continuous training in patients with CAD, suggesting greater vascular responsiveness to exercise stress.

Cite This Study

Baladzhaeva et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd11d6550ea4541ffe907https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag249.162
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Effects of HIIT + resistance training and HIIT alone on blood biomarkers related to cardiac and brain health in patients with coronary artery disease: preliminary results from the HEART-BRAIN RCT2026
  2. 2Acute cardiovascular exercise and circulating neurotrophic factors in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis of mechanisms and methodological moderators2026 · 2 citations
  3. 3Effects of Single-Bout Endurance Exercise Intensity on Peripheral Neurotrophic Factors in Patients With Ischemic Stroke During the Subacute Phase of Rehabilitation2026
  4. 4Time-Course of Physiological Adaptations to High-Intensity Interval Training-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Myocardial Infarction2026
  5. 5Comparison of different aerobic exercise modalities on echocardiographic variables in early cardiac rehabilitation2026