BDNF and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Given that BDNF plays a central role in facilitating learning, memory, and neural plasticity [11], combined with obesity representing potent risk factors for both neurocognitive deficits [3] and metabolic disorders [10], our findings coupled with previous studies provide a strong rationale for targeting BDNF signaling via exercise interventions to treat the clustering of obesity, diabetes, and neurological disorders.