The MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN AGING: NEUROBIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DHIKR AND BDNF REGULATION

Abstract

Mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and excessive rumination (overthinking) are on the rise, especially in older adults, as the modern world grows more complex. Increased activity associated with hyperactivation of the HPA axis and downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which are both essential for neuroplasticity, emotional control, and cognitive function, are closely linked to aging. As people age, their BDNF levels decline, which increases their susceptibility to mental health issues and impairs neurobiological function. It has been proposed that the Islamic spiritual practice of dhikr can enhance mental health, but the neurobiological processes that underlie these benefits remain to be clarified. The present study investigates  is to assess dhikr as a psychospiritual intervention for lowering mental health issues as people age and investigate its relationship to BDNF regulation. Using databases like PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, a systematic literature this review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. Articles that qualified were subjected to narrative analysis. The results show that spiritual activities like meditation and dhikr are linked to higher BDNF expression and lower levels of stress and anxiety. The BDNF–TrkB signaling pathway, which promotes neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, is activated, cortisol secretion is decreased, and the HPA axis activity is attenuated. All things considered, dhikr exhibits promise as a non-pharmacological, safe, and reasonably priced way to promote mental health as people age.