Exercise-induced myokines and their role in central nervous system function: a scoping review
Review - e245633 - Published 2025, Oct 25
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33233/rbfex.v24i1.5633Keywords:
central nervous system, exercise, myokine, neuroprotectionAbstract
Introduction: The increasing prevalence of neurological diseases is a major global concern. Recently, myokines, molecules secreted by active skeletal muscle, have emerged as potential mediators of the beneficial effects of physical exercise on the central nervous system (CNS), playing a key role in muscle-brain communication. Objective: To review the scientific evidence on the influence of exercise-induced myokines on central nervous system function. Methods: This scoping review included clinical trials evaluating the secretion of exercise-induced myokines and their impact on CNS function in healthy individuals and patients with neurological disorders. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed/Medline, SciELO, and Embase, without time restrictions. Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Exercise protocols included aerobic training (seven studies) and strength training (four studies), involving participants aged 23–69 years with or without CNS dysfunctions such as amnesia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Prader-Willi syndrome. The most investigated myokines were irisin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), although findings were heterogeneous. Some studies demonstrated increased levels of these myokines associated with improvements in cognitive function and balance, while others found no significant changes. Other myokines, including cathepsin B and IGF-1, were linked to synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection. Conclusion: Exercise-induced myokines, particularly irisin and BDNF, appear to modulate CNS function. However, heterogeneity across studies and limited research involving individuals with neurological dysfunctions highlight the need for further investigations with standardized methodologies.
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