neurotrophic

[ noor-uh-trof-ik, -troh-fik, nyoor- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the effect of nerves on the nutritive processes.
2. neurotropic.

Word History and Origins

Origin of neurotrophic¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; neuro- + -trophic

Example Sentences

The new study investigates tumor responses to brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, a protein that helps enable brain plasticity.

From Science Daily

"There's a tremendous amount of neuroimaging research in the last five to 10 years that shows the neurotrophic hypothesis and neuroplasticity hypothesis are probably even more important than the neuroendocrine ones," Kellner added.

From Salon

In recent years, the idea that ECT works by promoting the creation, maintenance and growth of neurons — what's known as the neurotrophic hypothesis — and by helping boost neural connections — the neuroplasticity hypothesis — has begun to gain ground.

From Salon

Active, running animals in these experiments scored much higher on rodent intelligence tests than sedentary mice, and their brain tissues teemed with elevated levels of a substance known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, often referred to as “Miracle-Gro” for the brain.

From Washington Post

Alberts believes exercise increases neurotrophic factors, small molecules, usually proteins, that promote the growth and survival of brain cells.

From Washington Post