Can a quick run boost your brain? small study tests exercise intensity on brain health
NCT ID NCT07137611
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed study looked at how low, moderate, and high-intensity exercise affect brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a chemical important for brain health, and thinking skills in 12 healthy young adults aged 18-25. Participants did different exercise sessions and a rest session in random order. Researchers measured BDNF and lactate levels in blood and tested thinking speed and accuracy. The goal is to understand which exercise intensity best supports brain function.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could help design exercise programs that boost brain chemicals like BDNF to improve thinking and memory.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early study in healthy young adults. Results may not apply to older people or those with health conditions. The effects seen may be small or not last long.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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12 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2025
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 25 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria * Aged between 18 and 25 years * No known medical condition that prevents participation in exercise * Not currently using any pharmacological agents * Exclusion Criteria: * Experiencing any discomfort before, during, or after exercise * Current or past diagnosis of pharmacological or doping substance use * Engaging in regular exercise (more than 3 times per week) within the last 2 weeks * History of alcohol or substance addiction * Any other condition or factor that may prevent full participation in the study protocol
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Aksaray University
Aksaray, Center, 68000, Turkey (Türkiye)
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