Sex Differences in BDNF Response to a Maximal Exercise Test
Official title: Investigation of Sex-differences the BDNF Response to Exercise
Run by McMaster University · NCT07912307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether men and women have different levels of BDNF in the blood after a maximal exercise test.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | McMaster University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hamilton, Ontario) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 2026 |
| Main results expected | February 2027 |
| Study ends | February 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07912307 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 35 without major health issues that affect exercise participation.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with conditions or histories that alter BDNF responses or contraindicate maximal exercise may experience limited relevance from the results.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will measure circulating BDNF levels before and after a maximal exercise test in healthy young adults to see if there are sex-related differences. The study focuses on how exercise may boost BDNF, a protein linked to learning and memory. By comparing responses between males and females, the trial aims to clarify whether sex influences the brain-related benefits of acute exercise. The design is observational in terms of the biomarker response to a single exercise bout, conducted at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help tailor exercise recommendations to maximize brain-related benefits based on sex.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests BDNF can rise after exercise, but sex-specific responses are not yet well defined, making this approach relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Between the ages of 18 and 35 Exclusion Criteria: * presence of type 2 diabetes * history of hypoglycaemia * history of concussion(s) with persistent symptoms * presence of major depressive disorder * history of cardiovascular events requiring hospitalization (i.e., heart attack, stroke) * presence of respiratory disease (e.g. asthma) * pre-existing injuries that prevent aerobic exercise participation.
Where it's running
-
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jeremy J Walsh, PhD — McMaster University
- Study coordinator: Jeremy J Walsh, PhD
- Email: walshj18@mcmaster.ca
- Phone: 905-525-9140
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
How MOR Activation Affects Stress and Social Behavior, and How Childhood Unpredictability Modulates This in Men and Women
This study tests whether activating the mu opioid receptor with morphine changes stress responses and social behavior, and whether sex and early life unpredictability alter those effects.
-
BDNF Levels and Atrial Cardiomyopathy in People Having AF Ablation
This study tests whether circulating BDNF levels are linked to atrial cardiomyopathy in adults having their first ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.
-
Sex differences in postoperative delirium and whether family visits help
This study looks to see if a patient’s sex changes the risk of delirium after non-cardiac surgery and whether family visits can help prevent it, especially in adults 65 and older.
-
Mixed nuts to support mood, stress, and thinking in young adults
This trial will test whether eating a daily mix of nuts for six months helps improve mood, reduce anxiety and stress, and boost cognition and sleep in university students aged 18–25.
-
Home-based brain stimulation versus duloxetine for fibromyalgia
This trial will test whether home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) works as well as duloxetine 60 mg for women with moderate-to-severe fibromyalgia when combined with exercise and pain education.
-
Donor-recipient sex matching for red blood cell transfusions in adult ICU patients
We will test whether giving adult ICU patients red blood cell transfusions from donors of the same sex improves survival compared with transfusions from donors of the opposite sex.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.