Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a common mental health condition triggered by severe stress, may benefit from exercise as a preventive and treatment measure, according to recent research. However, the specific impact of light-intensity exercise (LIE) on PTSD symptoms remains uncertain.
One theory suggests that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in eliminating fear memories. This molecule’s expression in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory and learning, has been shown to increase with regular exercise.
In this study, researchers used an animal treadmill model to determine exercise intensity based on lactate threshold. This model helped investigate whether consistent exercise can erase fear memories and whether BDNF is involved in this process. The findings are published in *Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise*.
During the experiment, rats were placed in a chamber and given mild electrical stimulation to induce fear memories. Afterward, the rats underwent four weeks of LIE training. Their behavior was then observed and compared to that of rats that did not exercise.
Initially, all rats exhibited fear-induced freezing behavior. Over time, the rats that exercised regularly became more active, suggesting that LIE helped diminish their fear memories.
When BDNF signaling was blocked in the rats using a specific drug, the beneficial effects of exercise on fear memory erasure disappeared, confirming that BDNF plays a role in this process.
As reported by medicalxpress, these results indicate that PTSD symptoms caused by extreme stress may be reduced through regular LIE, as it enhances BDNF activity in the hippocampus.
Given that PTSD patients often experience depressive symptoms and difficulty maintaining an exercise routine, this study shows that even LIE can effectively help erase fear memories. These findings could lead to new exercise-based treatment and prevention strategies with higher patient adherence.