Transcranial direct current stimulation and sport performance: Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and neurotrophins as potential biomarkers of abuse

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Francesco Botre ◽  
Giorgia Morgan Biasini ◽  
Xavier de la Torre ◽  
Lavinia Rutigliano ◽  
Veronica Sian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Potential Biomarkers

scholarly journals Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Other Neurotrophins in Elite Athletes: Potential Markers of the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Sport

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Donati ◽  
Veronica Sian ◽  
Giorgia Morgan Biasini ◽  
Xavier de la Torre ◽  
Fabrizia Folchitto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation that may enhance mental and physical performance in sports, representing a potential new form of doping (“brain doping” or “electromagnetic doping”). This study aims to identify diagnostic biomarkers for detecting the possible abuse of tDCS in sport. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and other neurotrophins (NT, such as beta nerve growth factor, NGF) were pre-selected as potential candidates since their serum values have been observed to change following tDCS. Neurotrophins were measured using ELISA assays in 92 serum samples collected from elite athletes, classified by sex (males = 74; females = 18), age (range 17–25 n = 27, 26–35 n = 36, and over 35 n = 14; age not known n = 15), type of sports practiced (endurance n = 74; power n = 18), and type of sample collection (“in competition” n = 24; “out of competition” n = 68). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs6265, rs11030099, and rs11030100) were genotyped on 88 samples to determine their influence on the analytes' basal levels. Athletes older than 35 presented higher BDNF values than younger individuals (p < 0.05). Samples collected “in competition” showed higher BDNF concentrations than those collected “out of competition” (p < 0.05). The studied polymorphisms appeared to affect only on proBDNF, not altering BDNF serum concentrations. NT-3 and NT-4 were poorly detectable in serum. Our results suggest that BDNF can be considered as a first biomarker to detect the abuse of tDCS in sport doping. Further studies are necessary to assess whether proBDNF and beta NGF can also be considered suitable biomarkers to detect the recourse to electromagnetic brain stimulation in sports, especially in the case their serum levels can be monitored longitudinally. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study aimed to pre-select serum biomarkers to identify the use of tDCS, and represents the first step toward the development of an indirect strategy, preferably based on the longitudinal monitoring of individual data, for the future detection of “brain doping” in sports.

scholarly journals Frontotemporal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Decreases Serum Mature Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 662
Author(s):  
Ondine Adam ◽  
Marion Psomiades ◽  
Romain Rey ◽  
Nathalie Mandairon ◽  
Marie-Francoise Suaud-Chagny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Temporoparietal Junction ◽  
Auditory Verbal Hallucinations ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Before And After

Although transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows promise as a treatment for auditory verbal hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia, mechanisms through which tDCS may induce beneficial effects remain unclear. Evidence points to the involvement of neuronal plasticity mechanisms that are underpinned, amongst others, by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in its two main forms: pro and mature peptides. Here, we aimed to investigate whether tDCS modulates neural plasticity by measuring the acute effects of tDCS on peripheral mature BDNF levels in patients with schizophrenia. Blood samples were collected in 24 patients with schizophrenia before and after they received a single session of either active (20 min, 2 mA, n = 13) or sham (n = 11) frontotemporal tDCS with the anode over the left prefrontal cortex and the cathode over the left temporoparietal junction. We compared the tDCS-induced changes in serum mature BDNF (mBDNF) levels adjusted for baseline values between the two groups. The results showed that active tDCS was associated with a significantly larger decrease in mBDNF levels (mean −20% ± standard deviation 14) than sham tDCS (−8% ± 21) (F = 5.387; p = 0.030; η2 = 0.205). Thus, mature BDNF may be involved in the beneficial effects of frontotemporal tDCS observed in patients with schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Does transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improve sport performance? A systematic review and Meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trish Chinzara ◽  
Gavin Buckingham
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Physical Endurance ◽  
Eligibility Criterion ◽  
Sports Performance ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Control Sham

The ergogenic potential around neuromodulation techniques using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has increased in excitement over the years, however, research involving its potential use in sports performance has concluded mixed outcomes. This meta-analysis aims to synthesise the diverging opinions of whether tDCS may serve to benefit athletes’ performance. A systematic search was conducted using online databases and reference lists available until September 2019. Randomised full-text studies that examined the acute effects of tDCS compared to a sham/control condition on the outcome measures of physical endurance (isokinetic, isometric or dynamic indexes) or sport directed protocols on healthy adults were included following a prescribed eligibility criterion. A total of 36 studies were included in the review. The quantitative analysis found there to be a moderate effect favouring the control/sham condition suggesting tDCS has no effect on sports performance (SMD =0.31,95%Cl: 0.12,0.50, p=0.002). But a qualitative sub-analysis found there was a small effect favouring the tDCS condition, for isometric, dynamic and sports directed studies. The results suggest tDCS could be used as a potential ergogenic aid if used in conjunction with a training regime. The current synthesised evidence is insufficient to confidently support the use of tDCS in enhancing sports performance.

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