▁function , ▁improved ▁m ood , ▁and ▁improved ▁memory . ▁Furthermore , ▁research ▁has ▁provided ▁a ▁great ▁deal ▁of ▁support ▁for ▁the ▁role ▁of ▁B D NF ▁in ▁hi pp oc amp al ▁ne uro gen esis , ▁syn apt ic ▁pl astic ity , ▁and ▁neural ▁repair . ▁Eng aging ▁in ▁moder ate - high ▁intensity ▁aer ob ic ▁exercise ▁such ▁as ▁running , ▁sw imming , ▁and ▁cy cling ▁increases ▁B D NF ▁b ios yn thesis ▁through ▁my ok ine ▁signal ing , ▁resulting ▁in ▁up ▁to ▁a ▁three fold ▁increase ▁in ▁blood ▁pl asma ▁and ▁B D NF ▁levels ; ▁exercise ▁intensity ▁is ▁posit ively ▁correl ated ▁with ▁the ▁magnitude ▁of ▁increased ▁B D NF ▁b ios yn thesis ▁and ▁expression . ▁ ▁A ▁meta - analysis ▁of ▁studies ▁involving ▁the ▁effect ▁of ▁exercise ▁on ▁B D NF ▁levels ▁found ▁that ▁consistent ▁exercise ▁mod est ly ▁increases ▁rest ing ▁B D NF ▁levels ▁as ▁well . ▁This ▁has ▁important ▁imp lications ▁for ▁exercise ▁as ▁a ▁mechanism ▁to ▁reduce ▁stress ▁since ▁stress ▁is ▁closely ▁linked ▁with ▁decre ased ▁levels ▁of ▁B D NF ▁in ▁the ▁hi pp oc amp us . ▁In ▁fact , ▁studies ▁suggest ▁that ▁B D NF ▁cont ributes ▁to ▁the ▁anx iety - redu cing ▁effects ▁of ▁ant ide press ants . ▁The ▁increase ▁in ▁B D NF ▁levels ▁caused ▁by ▁exercise ▁helps ▁reverse ▁the ▁stress - indu ced ▁decrease ▁in ▁B D NF ▁which ▁medi ates ▁stress ▁in ▁the ▁short ▁term ▁and ▁buff ers ▁against